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SWING DAT FIDDLE 
BOW 

AND OTHER VERSES 



BY 

FRANK MARKWARD 



Illustrated By 
HARRY WOOD 



Kansas City, Missouri 

BURTON PUBLISHING COMPANY 

Publishers 



-^^'"^^^^ 






Copyrighted 1920 

BY 

Burton Pubushing Company 
kansas city, mo. 



OCT 10 19'^ 



§)CI.A624739 



DEDICATION. 

To my wife, who is my warmest admirer, 
my keenest critic, and whose belief in my 
abihties is so far more than they deserve, 
these verses are affectionately inscribed by 

The Author. 



SAVING DAT 
FIDDLE how 

AND OTHEHVEUSES 





Swing Dat Fiddi^e Bow 



SWING DAT FIDDLE BOW! 

AHKIES all coonjinin' high, 
Swing dat fiddle bow ! 
Watch me ketch Lucindy's 
eye. 
Swing dat fiddle bow. 
Ef mah trottahs don't git stuck, 
Dancin' ob dis Mobile buck, 
Bus' dat pusson's h'at fo' luck. 
Swing dat fiddle bow. 

She walk home wif yallah Jim, 

Swing dat fiddle bow. 
'Low she raddah go wif him, 

Swing dat fiddle bow. 
See me shuffle 'cross dis flo*, 
Back an' fo'th, all roun' de do', 
Bet she won' do hit no mo', 

Swing dat fiddle bow. 

Oh, mah feet dey feel so light, 

Swing dat fiddle bow. 
See me wingin', ain' Ah right? 

Swing dat fiddle bow. 
Oh, Ah know whut Ah'se uhbout, 
How Lucindy's eyes stick out ! 
Feel so glad Ah wants tub shout ! 

Swing dat fiddle bow. 



10 Swing Dat Fiddle Bow 



Know she's lookin' by mah bones, 

Swing dat fiddle bow. 
Sashay 'roun' Miss Susie Jones, 

Swing dat fiddle bow. 
Susie grin an' cock huh eye, 
Ra'h mah haid mos' tub de sky, 
Know Lucindy's 'bout to die. 
Swing dat fiddle bow. 

Dah she comin* 'cross dis way. 

Swing dat fiddle bow. 
Wondah whut she gwine tub say ? 

Swing dat fiddle bow. 
"Zeph, 'ain Ah yo' honey chile?" 
Whoop ! mah haht jump fo'ty mile. 
See dis Ephum how he smile, 
Swing dat fiddle bow. 

"Lady, am yo' talk tub me?" 

Swing dat fiddle bow. 
"Zeph, ain' x\h yo' honey bee?" 

Swing dat fiddle bow. 
Den Ah grab mah honey sweet. 
Laws uh massy, hoi' mah feet ! 
Dis heah nigga cain' be beat, 

Swing dat fiddle bow. 



And Other Vkrses 11 



Know'd Ah'd win mah lady back. 

Swing dat fiddle bow. 
Yallah Jim, he git de sack, 
Swing dat fiddle bow. 
Heah dis gem'lin laugh an' sing, 
Gwine tuh buy uh weddin' ring, 
All on 'count dat fiddle string, 
Swing dat fiddle bow! 




12 Swing Dat Fiddle Bow 



SPRING FBVBR. 

|0 cut yo'se'f uh hick'ry stick 
An' lace yo' shoes up tight ; 
Coat 'cross yo' ahm suh, dat's 
de trick, 
An' den yo' dress jes right. 
Bandanna hank'chief hoi's yo' lunch, 

Shuht an' uh paih uh socks — 
O man, yo' spondin' tuh de hunch, 
Dat's driftin' roun' in flocks. 

Dey's sumfin bout dis Springtime aih, 

Dat meks mah feelins rise ; 
An' Ah'll jes go mos' anywhaih, 

Whaih w'uk won' hu't mah eyes. 
Jes staht me down uh rainpacked road — 

Green buddin' in de trees — 
Mah haht done shuck hits weary load, 

Tuh ride de springtime breeze. 

De red buhd swingin' high at res'. 

Ah wush him howdy do. 
Yo' got de music in yo' bres', 

But joy's done wif me too. 
De li'l crick uh ripplin' 'long, 

Uh singin' sof an' fine. 
An whut hit's sayin' in hit's song: 

''Whaih am yo' pole an' line?" 




And Othe:r Verses 13 



DE RAINY SEASON. 

ATAH keep uh drippin' tell de dus' am mud. 
Ribbah keep risin' tell dey gwine be uh 
flood. 

or man sun uh ridin' someuh's in de sky, 
Clouds go on frettin' tell dey ha'f tuh cry. 
Say tha', rain, ain yo nevah gwine stop? 

Drappin' all de watah in de whole blame shop? 
Straighten yo' face an' tek yo'se'f in han'. 
Eve'ybody tiahed in de whole blame Ian'. 

Grass keep uh growin' an' de weeds grow too, 

Gyahden sass so drownded, hates de sight uh dew, 
Cistu'ns runnin' ovah, springs dey cain' go dry, 

Less'n yo stop leakin' f um de whole big sky. 
Wheat up on hits toes, reachin' fo' de sun, 

Hain' gwine ripen tell you'alls am sho done. 
Heah me talkin' sunshine, come on wif dat gleam, 

Less'n we cumclusion yo' ain' nuffin cep uh dream. 

'Spec' some time in Summah we be lookin' roun' 

Fo' some place wha watah ain' plum lef de groun'. 
Gyahden truck uh pahchin', wiltin' in de heat. 

or dus' clouds uh blowin' offi'n eve'y street. 
Den suh, we be lookin' all 'roun' de sky, 

Tellin' one uhnothuh things am monst'ous dry. 
Yas, suh, we be lookin' fo' uh cool wet spot, 

Caze we ail time wantin' eve'y thing dat's not. 




14 Swing Dat Fiddly Bow 



COUNTRY PORK BACKBONES. 

ON' pestuh me 'bout chicken meat, 
Don' projick wif uh goose; 
Uh co'se dey bofe am good tuh eat, 
But 'taint uh mite uh use 
Uh talkin' 'bout uh chicken yahd 

In sech uhzalted tones; 
Caze Hfe tuh me am sholy hahd. 
Wifout dem sweet backbones. 



Ah min's dem ol' hawg kilHn' days 

We had befo' de wah; 
An' how we use tuh voice ouah praise, 

An' we sho knew whaffo. 
O, when Ah hahks back tuh dem times, 

Mah oF voice fahly groans. 
Uhgin Ah heahs de dinnah chimes, 

Dat brung dem sweet backbones. 



Jes bake 'em in uh deep wide pan, 

Uhlong wif tatuhs sweet, 
Uh put 'em in uh pot yo' can, 

All ways dey cain be beat. 
Tuhnips an' cabbage on de bile, 

An' homemade kraut — Ah hones 
Tuh set me down right thaih uhwhile, 

An' chew dem good backbones. 



And Othe:r Verses 15 



Some day Ah'll git uh piece uh groun', 
An' raise uh patch uh co'n; 

An' git mahse'f uh hawg Ah'se boun', 
An' each night fo' de dawn, 

When Ah Hes dreamin' fas' uhsleep, 
'Bout crackHns an' co'n pones — 

'Deed an' Ah'll hab uh cha'ge tub keep, 

Uh raisin' hawg backbones. 




16 Swing Dat Fiddle Bow 



CO'N PLANTIN' TIME. 

HEN Mahch win's blow tell dey out 
uh bref, 
An' dey howl an' groan uhroun', 
Tell dey scaih yo' all pu't nigh tuh 
def, 
Den de fros' all come out de groun'. 
An' eve'y time dat Ah walk 'cross de fiel' — 

Hit true jes sho's yo' bo'n — 
Mah foots sink down cla' obah de heel, 
An' Ah know hit time tuh plant co'n. 

So Ah tek de ol' plow out de shed, 

An' wipe de grease off de shaih; 
An' ah look hit obah tuh see ef de red 

Ob de rus' am anywhaih. 
Ah lif hit in de wagon an' hitch de team. 

On uh bright an' uhly mo'n. 
De dus' hit rise like uh cloud uh steam, 

When Ah breakin' groun' fo' de co'n. 

De furruhs shine in de sun so black, 

An' dey harruh down smoove an' fine. 
An' 'long come de plantuh wif one straight track, 

Uh puttin' de co'n in uh line. 
When de bosses tu'n de co'nduh dey prance, 

Caze dey know de day gwine dawn. 
When uh boy like me in blue denim pants, 

Will sho hattuh gathuh dat co'n. 



And Other Verses 17 



An' dat all right caze co'n mek de meat, 

An de meal fo' de good co'n pone ; 
An' cracklin co'n bread cain' be beat, 

Uhlong wif sweet backbone. 
So Ah sho am glad when de time am come, 

An' de prize done gwine be drawn, 
When Ah tu'n de groun' tell de ol' fa'm hum, 

Wif de plantuh clickin' in de co'n. 



18 



Swing Dat Fiddli^ Bow 





And Other Verses 19 



MARCH, 

L' Mahch come uh rampin' roun' 
de house, 
Like he done gwine teah hit 
down. 
He rah an' howl Hke he on uh c'rouse, 

An' am boun' paint up de town. 
He blow f um de Eas' an' long come de rain, 

F'um de Nawf he bring de snow. 
But when he blow f'um de Souf hit plain 
or Wintuh mos' ready tub go. 

or Wintuh know dat he time mos' come, 

But he wen' belieb hit true, 
So he staht right out fo' tub mek things hum ; 

An' dey do look mighty blue. 
De way dat he bite yo' on de eah, 

An' fros' 'up yo'alls toe, 
Am jes his way tub mek mo' cleah, 

Dat he now mos' ready tub go. 

When yo' see de blue bi'd flittin' roun'. 

When yo' heah de sassy jay, 
When de fros' come bilin' out de groun', 

Tub heah whut dey got tuh say, 
Yo' bettub go down tuh de ha'dweah sto' 

An' buy uh spade an' hoe, 
Hit time set de flowahs roun' de do*, 

Caze Wintuh plum ready tuh go. 



20 Swing Dat Fiddle Bow 



When yo'all staht tuhnin' up de groun', 

In yo' li'l gyahden plan, 
An' see uh fish wo'm wiggHn' 'roun,' 

Jes' hunt yo' uh 'matah can. 
Den git yo' uh feeshin' pole an' line, 

Ef hits uhly in de mo'n, 
An' hunt uh crick, caze dat's uh sign, 

or wintuh's plum' done gone. 




And Other Verses 21 



SPRING CHICKEN FRIED. 

I HEN hens am cluckin' roun' 
de place 
Wif uh fluffy bunch uh 
chicks, 
Uh scratchin' feed tuh fill dey face, 
Wif all dey bestes' licks, 
Ah sho looks aftuh dem wif caih, 

But sometime man, Ah sigh — 
Hit tek uh long time tuh puhpaih, 
Uh chicken fo' tuh fry. 

When Sunday come in Summah time, 

Ah hoi' mah mouf jes' so; 
An' Ah say : chicken sho be prime. 

An' tek some co'n an' go 
Right down befo' de chicken shed. 

An' call dem chickens spry. 
Ah grab uh roostuh by de head 

An' den, dey's chicken fry. 

De plattuh hoi' hit crisp an' brown, 

Milk graby on de side; 
Wif giblets swimmin' all uhroun', 

An' me thaih in mah pride. 
Uh chicken laig am in mah han' ; 

De joy am in mah eye. 
Mah mouf soun' like uh suhcus ban', 
IThroun' dat chicken frv. 



22 Swing Dat Fiddle Bow 



When Fall time come, possum sho fine. 

Bring rabbit when hit snow. 
In Springtime fetch ham bone fo' mine, 

An' hawg jole ain' so slow. 
But when de Summah time am heah, 

Wif sunshine in de sky, 
Jes set me down wif no one neah, 

An' feed me chicken fry. 




And Other Versbs 23 



SPRING VAGABONDAGE. 

lemme see f'um some high hill, 

De mo'nin' sun uhrise, 
Uh th'owin' roun' his splenduh till 
He paint up all de skies. 
An' fuh uhway de valley streams, 
An' green woods faihly shine; 
Uh gleamin' in de golden beams — 
An' dat'll do fo' mine. 



When folkses talk 'bout autybiles 

An' yuddah things dat pay; 
Ah know uhzackly how dey feels, 

An' whut dey means tuh say. 
Hit trouble whut dey's talkin' 'bout, 

Wifout one joyful chu'k. 
De bloom uh life tuhn wrong side out, 

An' all yo' fin's am wu'k. 



Hit jes' de way dat white folks hab, 

Uh coaxin' ob yo' on. 
Dey spreads dat soothin' talkin' sa'b, 
F'um uhly in de mo'n. 
Dey talks uhbout de great rewa'd 
Fo' wu'kin' like uh Tu'k, 
But whut hit am yo' gits — mah Lawd! 
Am mos'ly ol' ha'd wu'k. 



24 Swing Dat Fiddi^e Bow 



O, put me by uh silvah stream, 

Deep in de Oza'k hills ; 
An' lemme sit right thaih an' dream, 

Long ez de spi'ut wills. 
De feesh line strain, de green pole gib, 

Wif nod an' juke an' je'k; 
Uh feesh done tryin' not tuh lib. 

An' lawsy, how he w'uk. 






And Othkr Verses 25 



DE BBS' WHAT IS. 

|EY's folks Ah know yo' jes' cain' 
please, 
No mattah whut yo* do; 
Dey don' know how tuh take 
dey ease 
Jes' caze dey fret an' stew. 
An' when hit's hot hit way too hot; 

When col' hit sho too col'. 
But ef folks tek whut dey is got, 
Dey'll hab uhnough tuh hoi'. 
En heah is whaih Ah think A'hm right: 

Tuh 'ten' tuh mah own biz, 
An' stay thaih ef hit tek all night. 
An' do de bes' whut is. 



Dese folks dat all de time complain 

Uhbout things dey cain' change, 
Dey'd head de craps off f 'um de rain ; 

An' yuddah things ez strange. 
Dey'd mek de whole big worl' carouse 

Tuh de chune dey think should be ; 
Tell dey's sent tuh de foolish house — 

Ah hopes hit wouldn't be me. 
Uh co'se dey's times when Ah cain' see, 

Why Ah hez roomatiz ; 
But s'pose hit's wuss — mah lawsy dee — 

Ah'll do de bes' whut is. 



26 Swing Dat Fiddi^e Bow 



Things gwine tuh be jes' like dey am, 

No mattuh whut folks say. 
Ah hoi's mah mouf jes' like uh clam, 

An' teks things day by day. 
Dese talkin' folks bes' hoi' dey bref ; 

Dey'll need hit bimeby. 
Come times Ah talk uh heap mahse'f— 

Dat sho nuff ain' no lie. 
But Ah hez luhned de bestes' play, 

When fool folks spout an' fizz, 
Jes' let 'em hab dey silly way, 

But do de bes' whut is. 




And Other Verses 27 



UNFAILING SIGNS. 

DE jay bi'd he am sassy, 
An' fo' cussin' — laws uh 
massy ! 

Hit plum' scan'lous how he 
bias' ye, 
When he git tuh goin' strong. 
But Ah sho hone fo' his chattuh, 

Caze Jack Fros' den will hattuh 
Hike uhlong, dat whut de mattuh, 
An' Ah hopes hit won' be long. 

O, de Mahch win's am uh keenin', 

Thoo de big trees, bendin', leanin', 
An' de maples am uh dreenin', 

All de sweetness ob dey sap. 
Yo' kin heah de red bi'd trillin', 

Music in de wil' win' shrillin' — 
He mos' sholy am uh spillin', 

All de music in his crap. 

Thoo de night de win's keep yellin', 

But de tree buds am uh swellin', 
An' Ah reads de signs uh tellin' 

Wintuh time uh long goodbye. 
Green grass whaih de hill's uh slopin' ; 

Roun' de ba'n lot colt's uh lopin', 
Ef yo' ain' Spring, den Ah'se uh hopin', 

Dat Ah cuhls right up an die. 




28 Swing Dat Fiddle Bow 



RECIPROCITY. 

ON' yo'all come uh honeyin' roun', 
Jes' caze Ah got mah pay. 
Done treat me meanuh dan uh 
houn', 
Heah jes' de yuddah day. 
Dat rammycackin' hit don' go, 

An' if'n yo' ketch de idee — 
Ah don' caih fo' nobody — no — 
Whut don't caih nuffin' fo' me. 

Yo' go uhlong an' do fo' folks, 

An' treat 'em jes' plum' gran' 
An' when dey gits hit all de joke's 

Am right whaih yo'all's stan'. 
Dey tek de las' bean out de pot, 

Ez sly ez dey kin be. 
So Ah don' caih fo' nobody — not — 

Whut don't caih nuffin' fo' me. 

If'n yo' bring me whut Ah fetch yo' ; 

Hit tek uh twistin' tongue, 
Tub prove tub me dat things am so, 

Dat yo' an' me git stung. 
But folks dat lookin' tub receib. 

An' yo' shaih dey cain' see, 
Don' caih fo' nobody, bettah belieb, 

An' dev don' caih fo' me. 



And Othkr VersKs 29 



When Ah done meet uh sho' nuf frien', 

Dat treat me good an' right ; 
Ah nevah let dat frien'ship en', 

But, suh, wif all mah might 
Do fo' dat frien' like dat frien' do; 

An' den Ah'se sholy free, 
Tuh caih fo' somebody in mah view, 

Whut done caih sumfin fo' me. 



30 



Swing Dat Fiddle: Bow 





And Other Verses 31 



DB SLACKUH. 

HEN de sun am wa'm an' shining 
An' de day am peaht an' bright, 
An' Ah'se on de po'ch reclinin*, 
An' uh feelin' almos' right; 
Den Ah know de times am jub'us, 
Fo' de ol' houn' pup an' me — 
Dah now come de soun' tuh mobe us : 
"Hey, yo Ephum, whaih yo' be?" 



Grab dat spade yo' wufless nigga. 

Tu'n dat truck patch tuh de sun. 
Cain' yo' nevah lu'n tuh figgah 

How tuh git yo' labuhs done? 
Sun uh shinin', dah yo' settin', 

Like uh ebuhlastin' hill. 
Now yo' mobe uh Ah'se uh bettin' 

Dey'll be trouble, deed dey will. 

Whut de use uh all time wu'kin, 

Tu'nin' up dis duhty mol'? 
Ceely like tuh say Ah'se shu'kin' — 

Dah's uh feesh wo'm, dog mah soul ! 
Gra' big scoun'el an' uhnothah, 

An' right heah's uh 'matuh can. 
Is Ah gwine feeshin', brothah? 

Is Ah, jes' yo' watch dis man. 



32 Swing Dat Fiddi,i: Bow 



Cane pole restin' 'gainst de raftuh, 
Feeshin' line right in de shed; 

Crick's mah bizness an' Ah'se aftuh, 
Whaih dat catfeesh mek his bed. 

Hain' no use uh talkin' diggin', 
Got uh miz'ry in mah back. 

Know Ah'll git de debbil's wiggin' ; 
But Ah'se feeshin', cla' de track! 




And Other Verses 33 



CR AC KLIN' CO'N BREAD. 

HEN butch'un time am sho 
nuff heah — 
La'd cracklins in de pan — 
Den in de kitchen Ah appeah. 
An' thaih Ah tek mah stan', 
Tell Mandy grab dem cracklins brown, 

An' mix wif meal ob co'n ; 
Seem like Ah jes keep hangin' roun', 
An' would suh tell nex' mo'n. 

She po' thick battuh in de pan, 

Hit yalluh mos' ez gol'. 
Ah feel so wa'm inside, mah Ian'! 

Ah cain' tell ef hit col'. 
She put hit in de oven hot, 

An' close de do' up tight, 
An' me, Ah Stan's uhroun' dat spot, 

Uh achin' wif delight. 

Den bimeby she ope de do', 

An' lawsy dee, dat smell ! 
Mah teef am all uh leakin' so, 

Yo' think Ah'se mos' uh well. 
De crus' so brown, puah gol' inside. 

When Mandy shek hit out. 
An' in uh chaih so quick Ah glide, 

Yo' cain' see whut Ah'se 'bout. 



34 Swing Dat FiddlB Bow 



Uh six inch slab am in mah han', 

Mah jaws am wu'kin' free. 
Ah'se got uh life presuhvin' plan, 

Dat sut'ny she suit me. 
De richness go plum' tuh mah head, 

Uh meltin' in mah face. 
Bring on dat cracklin' co'nbread, 

An tek de th'one uh grace. 




And Othkr Verses 35 



WHEN DB REDBUD BLOOMS. 

HEN de Spring branch staht 
tuh flowin', 

Down below de woody 
slope ; 
Come uh streak uh coluh showin', 

Like uh bright an' glowin' hope. 
Come de wa'min' sun uh shinin', 
On uh wavin' puhple plume. 
Den hit time tuh quit repinin', 
Caze de redbud am in bloom. 

Yo' kin heah de red bi'd trillin', 

On uh high up whiteoak tree. 
An' de blue jay am uh shrillin', 

Fo' de mate he hone tuh see. 
Heah de meadow la'k uh whistlin', 

Hit will banish all yo' gloom. 
An' yo' bofe eyes am uh glisnin', 

Caze de redbud am in bloom. 

Hain' no use uh feelin' troubled, 

Fo' de Wintuh days now thoo. 
All yo' happiness am doubled, 

An' de blue bi'd's wif yo' too. 
See de violets come uh prinkin', 

Wif dey sweetness an' puhfume? 
An' dey bring hit Ah'se uh thinkin', 

Caze de redbud am in bloom. 



36 Swing Dat Fiddle Bow 



Dey's de glory ob de sunset, 

Dey's de silvah joy ob dawn; 
An' law knows, dat Ah ain' done yet, 

Wif de half mah caihyun's on. 
or man Wintuh done gone trab'lin', 

Right smack up de goodbye flume ; 
Eve'y caih yo' got am rab'lin, 

Caze de redbud am in bloom. 

Bluegrass sod am sof an' springin', 

Neaf mah foot ez Ah go long. 
Hit so easy tuh go swingin', 

Dat mah voice break intuh song. 
Spring come weabin' flowahs, smilin', 

Plucked f'um Mothah Nachuh's loom, 
But de one dat's mos' beguilin', 

Am de redbud wif hit's bloom. 



% 




And Other Verses 37 



FISHIN' TIME. 

HEN de robin an' de jay, 
Sta't tub pass de time uh 
day; 

Den Ab knows de Spring am 
comin', 
An' bit won't be kep' ubway. 
Eve'y time Ab beab 'em twittuh, 
Seem like w'uk done git mo' bittub, 
An' Ab'm come tub dis cumclusion — 
or Mis' Job Ab'll battub quit bub. 

Dey's ub fisbin' pole an' line, 

An' de crick am lookin' fine; 

An' Ab knows de feesb am bongry, 
By de acbin' in mah spine. 

Co'se Ab ougbtub keep on wu'kin' 

But dat mizry sta't tub jubkin' 

Tell Ab don' caib ef Ab'se sbu'kin', 
Hit am fisbin' time fo' mine. 

Ab kin beab de ol' crick mu'mub : 
'Spring an' Summab, Spring an' Summab ;" 
Bull frog pipin' like ub drummab, 

Eve'y minute in de day. 
Hain' no use tub talk ubbout bit ; 
Hain' ub mite ub room tub doubt bit, 
Feel so glad Ab wants tub sbout bit : 

Fisbin' time done come tub stay. 



38 



Swing Dat Fiddle Bow 



loiiriWatefi 





And Other Verses 39 



TOTIN' WATAH FUM DB SPRING, 

I OWN at de bottom ob de slope, 
De spring hit bubble cleah. 
Hit sho good watah, an' Ah 
hope 
Mandy ain' roun' tuh heah 
Me sayin' whut Ah got tuh say, 
Tuh gib mah feelin's fling; 
Caze Ah bet fo'ty times uh day, 
Ah tote watah f um dat spring. 

Befo' Ah sta't out on mah cho'es, 

Dat watah bucket's dry. 
An' den down tuh dat spring Ah goes. 

An' climb dat hill so high. 
Hit sholy am de longes' road, 

Ah evah tried tuh swing. 
Dat bucket plum' two hundu'd load. 

When Ah tote hit f'um de spring. 

Now 'spose Ah got some w'uk tuh do, 

Uh come in fo' uh meal, 
An' stop tuh tek uh drink an' shoo' — 

Hit scan'lous how Ah feel. 
Dat doggone bucket dry uhgin. 

But yo' cain' heah me sing; 
Ah beat hit out ez slick ez sin. 

Right down tuh dat ol' spring. 



40 Swing Dat Fiddle Bow 



When wash day come, delivuh me! 

Mah po' back bruk in two. 
Mah ahms pull down claih tuh mah knee, 

Befo' Ah'se she nuff thoo. 
Uh co'se Ah'se tiahed uhnuff tuh die. 

But still tuh life Ah cling, 
Caze Ah might fin' uh hill ez high 

Uhgin ez by mah spring. 



Some day Ah'm gwine dig uh well 

Right by de kitchen do*, 
Wif tank an' win' mill, heah me tell? 

An' den suh navahmo' 
Will Ah go traipsin' down dat hill, 

Wif buckets fo' tuh bring 
By fo'ce an' stren'th an' might an' will, 

De watah f'um dat spring. 



•1 




And Other Verses 41 



DAT SMOKEHOUSE IN DE SPRING. 

H min's when Mahch days 
mos' is heah ; 
Spaih ribs an' backbones 
gone — 
Good things uh life dey disappeah 

Jes' like de href uh dawn. 
De hams an' bacon in de cuah, 

De salt hit cake an' cling. 
Ah hones tell Ah jes' cain' enduah 
De happy thought hit bring. 

Dem smokehouse raftuhs sho am brown 

Wif smoke ob yuddah days, 
An' hams an' bacon hangin' down, 

All thoo de smoky haze. 
Ah sees 'em change dey coluh too, 

Uh shinin' in de heat, 
AVif hick'ry smoke uh cuhlin' blue — 

Law me, hit cain' be beat. 

Dey's puhfume in dat hick'ry wood, 

Dat sholy suit uh ham — 
An' bacon too — bofe git so good, 

Dey sho be bes' whut am. 
An' so uhbout dis time uh yeah. 

When Mahch win's staht tub sing, 
Ah call tub min' uh vision cleah — 

Dat smokehouse in de Spring. 




42 Swing Dat Fiddle Bow 



CAUSE FOR DIVORCE, 

EY hain' no use uh talkin*, jedge, 
Ah'se tried till tryin's thoo; 
Dey hain' no chance uh way 
tuh hedge, 
Dat nigga plum won' do. 
Ah'se lef him now fo' good an' all, 
But heah's de p'int whut stings: 
He say dat Ah done 'fuse de call. 
An' keeps mah househol' things. 

Ah want mah cyahpets an' mah bed, 

Mah kitchen stobe an' chaih. 
Ah wants uh place tuh lay mah head, 

Wifout dat pusson thaih. 
Fo' leben yeahs Ah'se fed dat scamp, 

Thoo wintuh times an' springs, 
An' now hit time he tuck uh tramp, 

'Way f'um mah househol' things. 

Ah'se uhned de libin' by mahse'f, 

Wif wash boa'd an' uh tub. 
An' all dese yeahs wifout uh bref. 

Ah Stan's right thaih an' rub. 
De house am mine an' all hit got, 

An' to hit Ah sho clings; 
But all he do am lick de pot, 

An' keep mah househol' things. 



And Other Verses 43 



On weddin' day he say tuh me: 

"Heah's uh chaih an' lookin' glass, 
Tub an' wash boa'd, bof e am free ; 

So now choose yo'alls class. 
Ef yo* won' wu'k, jes' res' yo' se'f, 

Dat rockin' chaih hit sings : 
'Come watch yo' face staVe plum' tuh def,' 

While Ah keeps yo' househol' things." 



44 



Swing Dat Fiddly Bow 

Dat HickV/ 





And Other Verses 45 



DAT HICK'RY HAM. 

ON' talk uhbout co'ncob smoke 
meat; 
Hit don' soun' good tub me. 
An' ol' dry chips mek too 
much heat, 
So fuh ez Ah kin see. 
But when de meat come out de salt, 

An' hangin' high tub dreen, 
Yo' gwine hab hit wifout uh fault, 
Ef yo' use hick'ry green. 

Dey's sumfin' 'bout green hick'ry wood, 

Slow smokin' on uh fiah, 
Dat mek de ham an' bacon good, 

Ez yo'all could requiah. 
De rich wa'm smoke, hit faihly hone. 

Tub sta't de sealin' grease, 
An' sea'ch dat ham clean tub de bone, 

Tuh mek mo' sweet each piece. 

Some mo'nin' in de uhly Spring, 

Ah'se wu'kin' at mah cho'es, 
When all tuh once de aih hit bring 

Uh good smell tuh mah nose. 
Right den uh splicin' done tek place, 

Dat mek me shek mah laigs ; 
An' Ah sho totes uh weddin' face, 

Tuh dat hick'ry ham an' aigs. 



46 Swing Dat Fiddle Bow 



Ah hope Ah lib uh long, long while, 

Tuh heah mah Mandy call: 
*Come git yo' bre'kfus fo' hit spile"— 

Uh else don' die uhtall. 
But fo' dey lay me on de she'f, 

Ah'se gwine git hick'ry wood. 
An' sta't uh smoke uhroun' mahse'f, 

An' den Ah'll sho be good. 




And Other Verses ^ 



VUHGINNY REEL, 

HEN de fiddle starts tub 
soundin', 
Out dat or Vuhginny reel, 
An' de flo' am jes' uh 
poundin' 
Tuh de music in mah heel, 
T'un me loose uhmong dem honies. 

Swing 'em lef an swing 'em right. 
When uh fiddle's talkin' sonnies, 
Ah'U keep mobin' plum all night. 

Prance an' wing an' double shuffle — 

"Mistis Lucy, howdy do? 
Goodness, Susan, raise dat ruffle, 

Fo' ah ketch hit wif mah shoe." 
Roun' we go, law, heah dat fiddle, 

Talkin' like uh libin' thing. 
Back an' fo'th an' down de middle; 

Mockin' bi'd am in each string. 

Know mah face am jes uh shinin'. 

Feel mah standin' collah flop. 
When uh fiddle am uh whinin', 

Dahky's feet dey jes cain' stop. 
Buck thaih tell yo' crack de plastuh. 

Cut de pigeon roun' yo' sweet, 
Whoo ! mah laigs cain' go no fastuh ; 

Mistuh Fiddle's got me beat. 




48 Swing Dat Fiddle Bow 



WU'KLBSS SIMPSON. 

U'KLESS Simpson gone 
tuh jail. 
Hed no money fo' his bail, 
Hed no frien's an' so he 
fail, 
Tuh breeve de good free aih. 
When his ooman heah de news, 
Say, dem p'leece sho got uhbuse. 
Yo'd uh thought dat pusson lose 
Sumfin rich an' raih. 

Wu'kless git he no count name, 

Caze he alius use de same 

Scheme tuh dodge de wu'kin' game. 

All de blessed while. 
Like tuh brag an' boas' all day ; 
Apin' whut de white folks say, 
So we hopin' dat he pay 

On de break rock pile. 

Law hab him whaih haih am sho't. 
Cha'ge him wif dat nonsuppo't 
O, dey sholy hab he goat 

Ef he sta't tuh prance. 
When dey bring him in fo' trial, 
Mos' de jury weah uh smile ; 
Dey bin waitin' quite uh while, 

Fo' de presen' chance. 



And Other Verses 49 



Call his ooman fo' tuh prove, 
Wu'kless nevah mek uh move 
Fo' tuh git out de groove, 

Ob jes killin' time. 
When dat pusson tek de stan', 
Eve'body right on han', 
Watchin' tell she 'splain de plan, 

Tuh nevah mek uh dime. 



"Yo' am Wu'kless Simpson's wife?' 
"Yassuh, bin hit mos' mah life," 
'Tell de jury 'bout yo' strife, 

Uh mekin' Wu'less wu'k. 
Tell 'bout when pas' days glide. 
How yo' toil tuh rouse his pride. 
Whut fo' yo' did he puhvide, 
'Sides de daily shu'k?" 



Ooman set right thaih, she did. 

Nevah bat uh blame eyelid. 

Den we know she grease de skid, 

An' we strain tuh heah. 
'Wu'kless nevah fall f'um grace. 
An' 'do he don' mek much has'e, 
He puhvide uh washday place, 

Thoo de 'durin' yeah." 



50 Swing Dat Fiddi,^ Bow 



Folks fo'got tuh scrape dey feet. 
Jedge, he shek up on he seat. 
Lawyuh look like he plum' beat. 

Rub he eyes tuh see. 
Jedge he say : "Hit seem de gist 
Ob complaint ez in de list, 
May be summed in 'case dismissed/ " 

An' Wu'kless walk out free. 




And Other Verses 51 



NOTHING IN RESERVE, 

IT'S mighty strange roun' 
heah, 
Wifout no gin uh beeh, 
An' peach an' honey — 
O, mah Lawd ! 
Am sho' nuff disappeah. 
Ol' Bou'bon an' ol' rye, 

Won' nevah ketch mah eye ; 
Ef Ah could see uh bottle now, 
Ah reckon's Ah'd plum' die. 

Come ol' July de fust. 

When all dese troubles bust, 
Dese dry days look so much uhlike, 

Ah cain' tell which de wust. 
Don' do no good tub fret — 

Mah th'oat git driah yet. 
An' less'n Ah tek mahse'f in ban', 

Ah done blow 'way. Ah bet. 

Ah sho' feel like uh houn', 

De way Ah hangs uhroun'. 
Dey's nuffin' lef cep' sody pop, 

Whaih wetness use be foun*. 
How come it dat Ah fail 

Tub fill uh jug uh pail? 
Ah like tub know whut chance Ah got, 

Wif me lock up in jail. 




52 Swing Dat Fiddle; Bow 



DB HOOVAHIZAH, 

AT Mistuh Hoovah's one smaht 
man, 
An' dese bright days ob Spring, 
Ah likes his good meat sabin' 
plan, 
And eve'y yuddah thing. 
An' so Ah rise up wif de dawn. 
An' tek mah pole an' line: 
An' ef dey ast yo', say Ah'se gone, 
Tuh Hoovahize fo' mine. 

Ah like tuh set out 'long de bank, 

Wif Jinny by mah side. 
An' see de li'l wavelets prank. 

An' watch de bob co'ks ride. 
De sun dance shadduhs thoo de trees, 

De aih am sof an' fine; 
An' Ah'se thaih strivin' ef yo' please, 
Tuh Hoovahize fo' mine. 

De buck set by de woodpile now, 

De bucksaw gath'un rus'. 
Hit sho look lonesome but Ah vow, 

Ef Ah saw wood Ah'd bus'. 
De win' hit blow straight f'um de Souf, 

An' dat's uh Bible sign 
De hook gwine drap smack in dey mouf, 

Ef Ah Hoovahize fo' mine. 



And Othkr Verses 53 



Yo' know we got tuh sabe de meat, 

Fo' de boys uhcross de sea. 
Uh else dem Ge'mans cain' be beat; 

An' den whaih would we be? 
So eve'y day Ah dig mah bait, 

Seem like Ah cain' decline 
Tuh labuh fo' de good ob state, 

An' Hoovahize fo' mine. 



54 



Swing Dat Fiddi^e Bow 



or Moje 





And Other Verses 55 



OU MOSB JOHNSON. 

|L' Mose Johnson's gone 

and died, 
Doggone his ol' wuthless 

hide. 
Lazy, triflin', hed no pride, 
Dat was sho'ly Mose. 
Slouch hat on his ol' wool thatch, 
or blue pants dat mos' all patch. 
Coat held shet wif one string latch, 
Atuhway he goes. 

Nebbah wu'ked uh libin' day 
'Low he wasn't built dat way. 
Set and heah his 'ooman play 
On de washin' boa'd. 
Nebbah hung clo's on de line, 
Jes say "wu'k" an' he'd resign, 
He sho' cut things mighty fine. 
But wouldn't tote no load. 

Wintah in de house he stayed, 
Summah foun' him in de shade, 
Watchin' sunbeams ez dey played 
Thoo de noontime drowse. 
Nebbah did uh a single thing, 
Too blame lazy fo' tuh sing. 
Had to use uh cane tuh bring 
Hisse'f to de house. 



56 Swing Dat Fiddi^e Bow 



Put him in uh ol' pine case, 
Load him on uh wagon base, 
Druv him to de bu'yin' place, 
Jes' uh few was thaih. 
Put de box down in de hole, 
Weathuh gittin' kinda col'. 
Who will say fo' Mose's soul 
Jes' uh li'l prayuh? 

People all uhroun' dey stood, 
Co'se hit wouldn't do no good. 
But at las' Ah say Ah would 
Do mah ve'y bes'. 

Xawd, yo' know Mose be'n no saint, 
But we hope yo heah dis plaint, 
An' dat Mose am whaih he ain't! 
Lawd, yo' say de res.' " 




And Other Verses 57 



DE CALL OB WHEAT, 

EY'S uh call f um sunny Kansas, 
Dey's uh lure f'um ol' Mizzoo; 
Hit's de call ob wheat dat yo'alls 
eat, 
An' hit say : come right on thoo. 
Come follow de whine ob de binduh, 

Come shock de bun'les ob gol'. 
Come right down de line de weathuh am fine, 
An' wu'k fo' de good ob yo' soul. 

Come out f um de white handed cities ; 

Dey's sweat an' labuh an' tan. 
Dey's blistuhs an' pain but de prizes yo' gain, 

Am de pride an' de haht ob uh man. 
Yo' can stifle de cravin's ob hungah. 

Yo' can bring tuh pale faces uh smile. 
Yo' stren'then de might fo' world freedom fight. 

An' de end am sho' wuth yo* while. 

F'um de fiel's uh Oklahoma, 

Claih up tuh de Canaduh line, 
De win's repeat: come sabe de wheat! 

An' hit's ovahalls fo' mine. 
Caze when de yeahs am passin', 

Ah sho' am gwine tuh tell : 
In ol '18, dis boy was keen, 

Tuh gib de Kaisuh hell. 



58 



Swing Dat Fiddly Bow 



Dem Good 
or Day5 





And Other Verses 59 

DEM' GOOD OU DAYS. 

EY'S folks dat keep uh talkin' 'bout de good 
ol' days dats gone. 
Dey ha'ks back tuh de times dey had befo' 
yo'alls was bo'n. 
De things dat folkses used tuh do, dey cain' be did 
no mo'; 
An' no diffunce how good yo' is yo' hasn't any 
show. 
De feesh dey all's used tuh ketch, de game dey used 
tuh shoot — 
If'n yo' seine de ribbuh dry, dey ast fo' mo' tuh 
boot. 
De sun hit shine mo' brightly, de aih done smell mo' 
sweet ; 
An' Lawd hab mussy on yo' when dey staht on 
things tuh eat. 

Dey tells uhbout de 'possums, how fat dey used tuh 
grow; 
An' de way dey use tuh cook 'em, ain' nevah 
done no mo'. 
Dey talk uhbout de drippin's in de pan so wide an' deep, 
De yams an' sweet 'tatuhs, tell Ah honguhs in 
mah sleep. 
Dey norates 'bout pas' springtimes an' ol' hawg jole 
an' greens ; 
Wif me uh dribblin' at de mouf, de while dey 
sets an' preens 
'Bout good ol' cracklin' co'n bread, uh smokin' fo' 
yo' eyes ; 
De which dey'll nevah git no mo' no matter how 
dey tries. 



60 Swing Dat Fiddi^e Bow 



Dey nevah was uh milyun like dem dey use tuh raise. 
Wif haht so red an' juice so sweet ez in dem 
f uh-back days. 
An' how dey tells uhbout 'em jes mek me ketch mah 
bref ; 
Mah teef staht sech uh leakin' Ah purt' nigh 
drown mahse'f. 
An' how dey play de fiddle at de dances cain' be beat — • 
Dey shuck down all de plastuh wif de floppin' 
ob dey feet. 
O, when dey stahts uh meetin' 'bout days an' times 
gone by, 
Ah wants tuh rise f'um out mah seat an' go some- 
whaih an die. 

Dey nevah saw uh autybile, dey nevah went tuh 
school ; 
De on'y street cah dey know was hitch up tuh 
uh mule. 
Dey nevah hea'd ob tellyfome, uh see uh aih mahchine ; 
Uh phonygraf dat sung tuh dem 'ud scaihed 'em 
all plum green. 
Dey nevah heahd uh express train, uh see uh mobie 
show. 
Hit sholy am uh wonduh, de things dey didn't 
know. 
So, shucks, Ah lets dem talk dey talk an' say dey little 
say, 
Uhbout de things dey think dey do, in dat olden, 
golden day. 




And Other Verses 61 



WHBATLBSS DAYS. 

ESE wheatless days don' 
bothah me, 
Uh wu'k me no annoy. 
De trouble am Ah jes' cain' 
see 
How tub spressify mah joy. 
Dat white bread am mighty fine, 

Hot biscuit in de mo'n, 
Sho mek dis dahky's eyeballs shine, 
But bring me mine in co'n. 

Dese white folks dat nebah lib, 

Down in de good ol' Souf, 
Don' know de pleasyuh hoecake gib, 

Uh meltin' in yo' mouf. 
An' cracklin' co'n bread : my Lawd, man, 

Yo' sho' am glad yo' bo'n ; 
When Dinah shek hit out de pan, 

Made ob de good ol' co'n. 

Some mo'nin' in de uhly light, 

Yo' peek out thoo de do'. 
An' see de fros' all gleamin' white, 

An' heah de cawin' crow. 
De win' so col' yo' git de shakes, 

An' po' yo'se'f uh ho'n ; 
An' eat fo' stacks uh griddle cakes, 

Made ob de good ol' co'n. 



62 Swing Dat Fiddi^e Bow 



Uh co'se Ah'se glad tuh hab white bread ; 

Hit look jes like de snow. 
But jes' de same, when all am said, 

Mah spi'uts would be low, 
Ef eve'ywhaih Ah wanduhd roun', 

De whole wide Ian' was sho'n, 
An' no place on de blessed groun', 

Was filled wif growin' co'n. 



I 




And Oth^r Verses 63 



LESS'N YO' CHANGE. 

|L' Jim Johnson say tuh me 
one day: 
Ah truly hopes de Lawd, 
On jedgment day will look 
mah way 
An' gimme mah reward. 
Uh co'se de Lawd will do dat thing — 
But Jim gwine think hit strange, 
When he git whut de good Lawd bring — 
Less'n he up an' change. 

Dey's uh rock ile well neah ouah town. 

No good fuh's Ah kin see; 
But folkses come fo' miles uhroun', 

Caze dat ile stuff am free. 
Sumfin' fo' nuffin' am on dey min', 

No matter whaih dey range, 
An' grief an' trouble am whut dey'll fin', 

Less'n dey sho' nuff change. 

De long deep groan an' de loud Amen, 

Ob uh neighbuh in de chu'ch, 
Sen's me wif uh lock fo' mah chicken pen; 

'Fo' Ah git lef in de luhch. 
Folkses oneasy when dey acks dat way. 

Like uh flea bit dawg wif de mange; 
An' dey comin' tuh yo'alls house fo' pay, 

Less'n dey sudden change. 



64 Swing Dat Fiddle Bow 



Ah sho' hate tuh keep on findin' fault 

Wif folks an' de way dey do; 
Look like Ah's pestuhn de fambly vault, 

Ob all uh de human crew. 
If'n Ah sees in dem whut dey see in me, 

Ah bettuh mobe outen dis grange; 
Uh Ah'U hab uh ol' rail ridin' bee, 

Less'n Ah'alls change. 



And Other Verses 



65 




M ANDY'S CHOICE, 

IM Johnson was uh railroad 
man, 
Wif uh run on de ol' T. P. 
An' brakin' thaih one day, 
mah Ian', 
He fall same's fruit out uh tree. 
De train am swingin' roun' uh ben', 

When po' Jim tek dat drop ; 
An' bus' his haid an' die right den, 
When he fall plum' off'n de top. 

De claim boss man he heah de news, 
Dat Jim done los' his life, 

An' he set out tub 'spoun' his views 
Tub Jim's po' widduh wife. 

*Now Jim am sho' nuf gone," he say, 
''An' cain' come back no mo', 

An' Ah'se trabeled plum' heah tuhday, 
So yo' navah mo' be po'. 



Five hunduhd dolluhs Ah'se got fo' yo', 

An' heah am de papuh tub sign." 
An' law she write hit down befo' 

Dat fool man change his min'. 
He count de money down huh han', 

An' den he grin kinda sly. 
"Now Mandy," he say, "whut am yo' plan, 

An' whut do yo' aim tub buy?" 



66 Swing Dat Fiddle Bow 



'Ah'se gwine buy me uh house an' lot, 

Wif uh whitewash picket fence ; 
Uh cow an' shoat, uh hoss dat'll trot, 

An' chickens, caze dat am sense. 
Shoes an' dresses am in mah view, 

An' Ah'U hab 'em soon's Ah can- 
Git ma'id 'gin ? well if 'n Ah do, 

He'll sho' he uh railroad man.'' 




And Other Verses 67 

MOONLIGHT SAVING. 

An Incident. 

IS new time thing sho' 
bothah me 
De question mighty deep. 
Tuh sabe mah soul Ah fail tuh see 
Why Ah should lose mah sleep. 
De bossman standin' by de do' 
Say: "By de sun tuh day, 
We sen' yo' home at ha'f pas' fo' ; 
So run uhlong an' play." 



Ah jes' don' git dat kin' uh talk; 

Ah pondah on hit too. 
Mah feelin's rise right up an' balk- 

Dey sho' indeedy do. 
Tuh sen' me home at ha'f pas' fo' ! 

Hit do seem kinda soon. 
But how come poundin' at mah do', 

Fo' thutty by de moon. 



68 



Swing Dat Fiddly Bow 



OXY 





And Othkr Verses 69 

BY PROXY. 

|H bet de feesh am bitin, but dey don' bite 
fo' me. 
Ah ain' uh settin' on no bank ez happy 
ez kin be. 
Ah ain' uh wo'min ob no hook, tub watch uh bob 
float ride; 
Uh stringin' up uh shiny feesh, in all his sinful 
pride. 
De big trees lean uhcross de bank, de shadduhs an' 
de sun, 
Dey keeps uh spiduh-webbin' on de watah while 
hit run. 
Ah look an' keep uh lookin', but Ah cain' noway see 
Uh fellah settin' on dat bank, dat look like he 
was me. 

Dey come uh bright an' sunny day while yet de lan's 
in Spring; 
Come too uh feelin' in mah bones, dat sho' an' 
truly bring 
De happy thought uh yuddah days wif fishin' pole an' 
line; 
An' Ah knows de feesh am hongry an' Ah knows 
dey's bitin' fine. 
An' heah is me uh wu'kin', de sweat po' off mah face, 
Uh hank'rin tub be gwine an' Ah cain' git off 
de place. 
An' so Ah keep uh thinkin' an' uh honin' fo' tub be 
De boy whut's settin' on de bank, dat ortuh look 
like me. 



70 Swing Dat Fiddle Bow 



Ah wondah why hit alius am when feeshin' time am 
good, 
Dey's all time gyahden fo' tuh mek, uh cuttin' 
grass uh wood. 
Dey's alius sumfin come uhlong uh 'stressin' ob yo' 
min', 
Like ha'kin' back tuh trouble yo' done thought 
bin lef behin'. 
But ef dey evah come uh day when ev'ything am right, 
An' Ah rise up in de mo'nin' befo' de dawnin' 
light, 
Wif mah pole an' line all ready an' Ahm whistlin' 
peert an' free — 
Den yo' know dat crick bank's holdin' uh boy 
dat's sho' nuf me. 




And Other Verses 71 

SAM'L HOUSTON JONES. 

EY dress me up like Uncle Sam in red an' 
white an' blue; 
Uh stobe pipe hat on mah ol' haid in dem 
same coluhs too. 
De sta's an' stripes run roun' mah laigs an' shine out 
in mah coat; 
Dey put chin whiskuhs on mah face ; 'deed an' ah 
was some spo't. 
Dey put me up tha' at de haid right smack in front 
de ban' — 
Dey wa'nt unnothah nigga like me in all de Ian'. 
An when de music sta'ted dey strop flatirons on mah 
feet ; 
Dey sho' nuff had tuh weigh me down tub keep 
me on de street. 

All 'long de way was collud gals, de yalluh, black 
an' brown; 
In dey bestes' bib an' tuckah dey come fo' miles 
uhroun'. 
Dey kep' uh dabbin' at dey eyes an' tryin' fo' tuh smile, 
While we went mahchin', mahchin', fo' fo'ty-leben 
mile. 
Dey hain' no use uh talkin' dey all was tha' tuh seCy 
An' mos' ob dem put in dey time uh lookin' squa' 
at me. 
De ban' behin' me blow so strong mah hat lif in de 
breeze, 
Mah foots done lif so high Ah skin de inside off 
mah knees. 



72 Swing Dat Fiddle Bow 



Dey's some ob us uh mahchin' dat ain' uh comin' back, 
But we ain' thinkin' 'bout hit when we cross de 
railroad track. 
An' dah, de train uh standin', de injine growlin' low, 
Uh rumblin' an' uh grumblin' an' uh pantin' fo' 
tub go. 
De bell hit am uh ringin' uh las' git-ready chime ; 

Dey's fo' gals Rangin' roun' mah neck at one en- 
durin' time. 
De yuddah boys am simlah 'gaged all up an' down 
de track ; 
An' Ah'se uh standin' up so straight, mah shirt 
Gain' tech mah back. 



An' now de train am mobin', de gals, all dressed in 
white, 
Uh wavin' us dey fon' goodbyes till we plum' 
out uh sight. 
Ah shuck's mahse'f out dem clothes no mo' Ah'se 
Uncle Sam; 
But is Ah wu'kin' fo' him, Ah sho' indeedy am. 
De wah am now mos' ovah sence Ah got on de way : 
Caze when de sahgent ast mah name yo 'ortuh 
heah me say, 
Uh standin' tha' so straight an' tall an' f'um me come 
dese tones : 
"De name mah Mammy gimme am Sam'l Houston 
Jones." 



And Othe:r Verse^s 73 



De Sahge say, dat's uh fightin' name an' den he kinda 
grin, 
We'se bin waitin' fo' yo' fambly fo' de las' gran' 
goin' in. 
So tek yo' place suh in de ranks mah wu'k am mos' 
nigh done ; 
Fo' when Sam Houston Jones gits stahted hit's 
goodbye tuh de Hun. 
Ah lines mahse'f up in de ranks, an' man, hit sho' de 
trufe, 
Mah haid's uh rahrin' back so fuh Ah look straight 
thoo de roof. 
An' when Ah'se landed ovah tha' jes' lissen fo' de 
groans, 
Dat come f'um Pappy Kaisuh 'count uh Sam'l 
Houston Jones. 




74 Swing Dat F'iddi.e Bow 

DE YANKS AM COIN' THOO. 

ING de bells an' toot de ho'ns an' blow de 
whistles too; 

Hit sho' de time tub jubilate, dem Yanks 
am goin' thoo. 
Dey hates tub lib down in uh trencb, dey hone tub be 
outside 
Whaih dey kin git some ackshun fo' tuh lay low 
Ge'man pride. 
Dey pack uh baynit in dey belt an' sheen guns in dey 
ban's, 
An' how dey root an' cut an' shoot uhmong dem 
Kaizuh ban's. 
Dey Injuns roun' em in de night an when de dawn 
am due, 
De guns begin tuh ba'k like sin, de Yanks am 
goin' thoo. 

or Pappy Kaizuh on uh hill, uh spy glass tuh his face, 
Sen's in his Huns an' all his guns, tuh tek de 
whole blame place. 
Heaps ob his guns, mo' ob his Huns, dey nevahmo' 
will roam. 
Dey come uh knockin' at de do' an' say, dem 
Yanks was home ! 
Dey biled right up out ob de groun' an' jump de picket 
fence ; 
Dem Huns got sech uh greetin' dat nobody's seen 
em sence. 
An' ef dey frien's expec' dem an' fin's dey's ovahdue, 
Hit ain' ha'd tuh fin' de reason, dem Yanks kep' 
goin' thoo. 



And Othi:r Verses 75 

In eve'y town in Yankee land, whaihevah railroads am, 
De trains jam full tih sojuhs dat b'long tuh 
Uncle Sam. 
Dey's hangin' out de winduhs uh rahun wil' tuh go; 
Uh rampin' an' uh champin', fo' tuh git dat 
Ge'man foe. 
An' law know, dey gwine git him, an' git him good 
an' ha'd ; 
De crown prince, pappy Kaizuh, an' dat windy 
Hindyga'd. 
Caze dey all am tiah'd uh waitin', hit's uh thing dey 
hates tuh do; 
So dey's rollin' by de milyun, dem Yanks am 
goin' thoo. 

Dey ain' so many ob us, 'bout uh hunduhd milyun 
strong ; 
But we kin sen' uhnuf uhcross tuh sing de funuhl 
song. 
An' we sholy got uh cho'us ob sheen guns an' cannon 
too. 
While de doughboys yell will ring de bell fo' all 
dat Kaizuh crew. 
Dey ain' no use uh talkin', de writin's on de wall, 
Dey ain' no chance in Mis' Belle France fo' any 
Hun uh tall. 
Dey's bringin' in de freedom, dat b'longs tuh me an' 
you, 
Hit's de day ob wraf. so claih dc i">af, dem Yanks 
am goin' thoo. 

(Written when the news came of the Yanks nt rnntleny.) 



Look Befb 





And Other Verses ^7 



LOOK BBFO' YO' LEAP. 

IS worl' done got so many sma't folks, 
Dat yo' bettah be usin' yo' eyes, 
'Caze ef yo' don' yo' gwine wake up, 
Wif uh monst'ous bad su'prise. 
An' 'fo' yo' 'grees tub any kin' uh plan, 
Some slick talkin' man ban 'roun', 
Fo' yo' tek yo' foots plum off n de fence, 
How fuh is yo' f 'um de groun' ? 



Once Ah cross uh woods on uh da'k black night. 

When de moon an' sta's done hid, 

An' come tub uh stake an' ridah rail fence, 

'Stid ob uh gate. Ah did. 

Ah climb an' jump on de yuddah side — 

De crick mek uh splashin' soun' — 

Ah done took bofe foots clah off'n de fence, 

Fo' Ah knew how fuh was de groun'. 



Uh white man he come uhlong one day, 

An' he sing uh tradin' song ; 

De things dat he promise he gwine do, 

Mek me listen all day long. 

He pull out uh papuh fo' me tub sign, 

But jes' fo' Ah write hit down, 

Ah wrop bofe laigs all roun' de fence. 

Tell Ah fin' how fuh is de groun'. 



78 Swing Dat Fiddle Bow 



Ah's lib 'roun' lieah uh long, long time, 

An' Ah's seen times come an' go. 

De good an' de bad traipse roun' mah way, 

Come uh ridin' high an' low. 

An' bimeby Ah I'un fo' tuh look, 

At de prize Ah think Ah foun'. 

An' keep mah foots high up on de fence. 

Till Ah know how fuh is de groun'. 



And Other Versks 79 




A HUNTING SONG. 

AWPAW an' 'simmon am bofe uh tas'in' right, 
Moon hit am uh shinin' de whole endurin' 

night, 
Houn' dog so oneasy he am spilin' fo' uh 
fight, 
Dey gwine be sumfin' doin' fo' de mo'nin'. 



Houn' dog's happy music am leadin' on an' on, 
Hit wakin' all de echoes tuh soun' de trump uh dawn, 
Ah'se jinin' de cho'us wif mah good ol' huntin' ho'n, 
An' sumfin boun' be doin' fo' de mo'nin'. 



Possum am uh hidin' in uh high up 'simmon tree, 
Bofe his eyes uh shinin' an' still ez he kin be, 
Houn' dog uh yelpin' like de yeah uh jubilee, 

Dey's sho'ly sumfin' doin' fo' de mo'nin'. 



Hi dah ! Mistuh Possum ! we's campin* on yo' trail, 
Soon we gwine hang yo' on uh long an' rusty nail, 
or Jack Fros' sho' chill yo' f'um nose cla' down tuh 
tail, 
Ah knows dey's sumfin doin' fo' mo'nin*. 



80 



Swing Dat Fiddle Bow 




And Other V^ErsEs 81 



OU HAWG KILLIN' DAYS. 



E fVfi 



I HEN de days am growin' 
sho'tuh, 
An' de nights am los' 
dey heat, ^ 

Mandy say she think we ought tuh, 

Sta't fo' Spring an' Summah's meat. 
So Ah go down tuh de hawg lot, 

An' Ah build uh feedin' place, 
Shoats come runnin' at uh dog trot, 
Liftin' up dey gruntin' face. 

Put de side boa'ds on de wagon, 

Hitch de team an' sta't uhway, 
or dog Shep he come uh taggin', 

Friskin' roun' an' full uh play. 
Drive on thoo de frosty mo'nin', 

Shuckin' out de yallah co'n. 
Fines' hawg feed sence de dawnin' 

Ob de day dat yo' was bo'n. 

Mah Ian', how dem shoats am growin', 

Puttin' on de fat an' meat! 
Dey sho' mek uh monst'ous showin'. 

Heah 'em squeal, hit time tuh eat. 
Come uhlong Decembah weathuh, 

Dem shoats heaby now as logs, 
Dey mos' reach end ob dey tethuh, 

Ejjicated now tuh hawgs. 



82 Swing Dat Fiddle: Bow 



Clean de big la'd reiiciuhn' kettle. 

Polish up de sassige mill. 
Man, Ah'se sholy in fine fettle, 

Gittin' ready fo' de kill. 
Den de fiah wood Ah sta't layin' 

'Neaf de filled up scaldin' tanks ; 
Hawgs, yo' bettuh be uh prayin', 

An' uh off'n up yo' thanks. 



See de neighbo's all uh comin' 

Fo' tub he'p out wif de wu'k; 
Soon now things gwine be uh hummin', 

Hain' no time fo' fo'ks tub shu'k. 
Wimmin' dey's uh cookin' dinnah, 

Men, dey scald an' scrape an' clean, 
An hang eve'y grinnin' sinnah 

Ob uh hawg up high tub dreen. 



Block an' cut de sides uh bacon, 

Don' yo' trim uh mite too thin. 
Now hams, shoulduhs, 'caze Ah'se achin' 

Fo' la'd makin' tub begin. 
Sabe de hawg joles ; spring come peekin' 

All roun' heah fo' ve'y long — 
Sta'ts up all mah teeth tub leakin' 

An' mah voice break intuh song. 



And Other Verses 83 

Song: 
HAWG J OLE AN' GREENS, 

O, de Springtime am uh comin', 

Ah kin feel dem waves ob ease, 
Jes' flowin' pu'kiilatin' like, 

Thoo de hinges ob mah knees, 
or rabbit gittin' tiahsome 

Ah'm risin' 'love mah means. 
Ah hone, Ah do, fo' uh bilin' stew, 

Ob ol' hawg jole an' greens. 

He am blood kin tuh de possum, 

Dat ripen in uh'ly fall. 
De same mouf fillin' sweetness, 

Ez caint be matched uhtall. 
De souse am satisfyin'. 

So am uh flitch an' beans ; 
But lawsy me, chile, leab me be. 

When Ah got hawg jole an' greens. 

When Mammy tek de basket down. 

An' projicks roun' de fiel. 
Den rise sweet music in mah bones, 

Come jubba tuh mah heel. 
Mah bre's done swell so happy. 

Bus' de gallus ofif mah jeans. 
De ol' brack pot am 'bilin' hot, 

Wif dat hawg pole an' greens. 



84 Swing Dat Fiddle; Bow 



Some time on uh fraish spring mo'nin', 

When de sky am cleah an blue, 
An de day jes' pas' de dawnin, 

Mandy slice uh ham in two. 
Skillet ready fo' de slicin'; 

Dat smell mek me shek' mah laigs, 
Caze dey's gwine tuh be uh splicin', 

Tween dat ham an' new laid aigs. 



HAM AN\ 

O, when Mis' Spring's uh rompin' roun' an' knockin' 
at de do' 
An' when de apple blossoms blow de open windah 
thoo 
Mah mouf hit sta'ts uh hank'rin' jes' like hit's done 
befo', 
Ah sho' nuf git oneasy an' Ah'se uh talkin' true. 
Caze Ah keep on uh tastin' tell mah tongue go plum' 
dog dry 
An' shucks ! Ah'm so triflin' Ah don' caih wha' 
Ah am. 
Tell Mandy tek uh skillet an' sta't right in tuh fry 
Uh mess uh fraish new aigs an' hick'ry ham. 



And Other Verses 85 



Ah kin see de fat uh sputtrin' an' de red juice runnin' 
free. 
An' de smell dat hit mah face jes' tek mah bref. 
De pa' f way tuh dat fry in' pan am Heaben's gate tuh 
me, 
An' Ah'se trab'lin dah so rapid Ah almos' pass 
mahse'f. 
Dem slices pink an' rosy am uh swellin' in de heat. 
De steam uh floatin' roun' hit mek me happy ez 
uh clam. 
T'ank de Lawd fo' all his blessin's am de praih Ah 
repeat, 
An fetch uhlong dat dribblin', hick'ry ham. 



Yo' bet Ah like de Springtime, de sun so wa'm an' 
bright. 
De clovah an de blue grass green an fine. 
When shades ob day am fadin' Ah'U hab tuh say good 
night, 
Dat hick'ry ham an aigs sho' cut uh shine. 
Ah likes tuh tek uh biskit an sop hit in de juice ; 
Hit got uh tas'e like nuffin' else Ah know, 
Ah'd tell yo mo' uhbout hit but tain't uh mite uh use, 
Caze Ah done smell hit fryin' an' hit sho'ly time 
tuh go. 



86 



Swing Dat Fiddi,^ Bow 




And Other Verses 87 



Ah kin see de sides uh swingin/ 

In de smokehouse high an' dry — 
Music in mah haid keep ringin' 

'Bout uh good time byumby 
Waitin' fo' uh piece uh bacon, 

An' de sweetness dat hit dreens, 
When de ooman sta't tuh makin', 

Up uh batch uh po'k an' beans. 

Dey's uh music in good eatin', 

Dat am ha'd tuh match in song, 
Eben do' de time am fleetin', 

Hit won' keep yo' ve'y long. 
An' de song dat Ah'se uh singin', 

Rouse mah pride ontil Ah preens. 
Caze de day am nigh dat's bringin', 

In dat lah'apin' po'k an' beans. 

PO'K AN' BEANS. 

When Cindy tek de ol' brack pot, 

An' po' de watah in, 
Den poke de fiah snappin' hot. 

An' sta't fo' tuh begin 
Tuh put in good ol' naby beans, 

An' spread slice po'k uhroun', 
Ah know uhzackly whut hit means, 

An' Ah'll be on de groun'. 



88 Swing Dat Fiddly Bow 



She pull de co'ncob out de jug, 

Dat hoi' de sawghum fine. 
Yo' heah hit say glug! glug! 

Dat's sweetnin' tuh mah min\ 
De wood fiah draw smack up de flue, 

De brack pot git up steam, 
An Ah'se right tha' tuh see come true, 

De fines' kin' uh dream. 



Ah heah de oV pot bubblin' on, 

An' f'um de lid uhrise, 
Uh smell dat's like de heabenly dawn, 

Tuh mek mo' glad yo' eyes. 
Say, man, Ah cain' hoi' still mah mouf ! 

An' Ah'm so hongry too, 
Ah gwine be daid an' ship down Souf, 

Befo' dem beans git thoo. 



Ah'se settin' at de table now, 

When Cindy say: "Yo' Gate, 
Jes' tek de pot 'caze Ah done 'low. 

Ah radda hab yo' plate". 
Sho' nuff dat plate got sech uh pile. 

Hit kinda so'tuh leans. 
But Ah'se plum' feahed de po'k uh'U spile, 

Onless Ah saves de beans. 



And Other Verses 89 



While Ah'se talkin' all de trimmin' 

Fo' de la'd am in de pot. 
Heah hit fry and sta't tuh simm'un? 

Dat ol' fiah am gittin hot. 
Soon hit melt an' go tuh bubble, 

Down beneaf uh cloud uh steam. 
Stub hit roun' uh dey'll be trouble 

Now yo' see hit sta't tuh cream. 



Tek uh han'full kidney jiblets, 

When de kittle sta't tuh bile, 
Slip 'em in de la'd in driblets, 

While dey cookin' man jes' smile. 
Ain' dey tenduh? Ain' dey 'licious? 

Wipe mah mouf off wif mah han'. 
Ef Ah don' hit sho' look 'spicious — 

Bestes' eatin' in de Ian'. 



Draw de woodfiah f'um de kettle, 

'Les de good la'd sta't tuh bu'n. 
Let de li'l bubbles settle, 

Caze hit done now tuh uh tu'n. 
Whut dat soun' dat Ah'se uh heahin'? 

Ah kin' feel hit rise an' swell. 
Thoo de aih an' cross de cleahin' 

Man, hit am dc dinnah bell! 



90 Swing Dat Fiddi.^ Bow 



Table now all set an' ready 

Co'n bread, biscuit, tatahs too — 
Quit yo' crowdin', jes' keep steady 

Plenty heah fo' me an' yo. 
See de po'k chops an' de graby ; 

Wif de jiblets floatin' high. 
Pie, mah Ian' ! an cake ! say, mebbe, 

Ah won' eat till Ah mos' die. 



Knives an' fo'ks mek such uh clattuh, 

Feet all braced uhgin de flo' ; 
Eve'ybody clean dey plattuh, 

An' pass hit uhroun' fo' mo'. 
Pots uh coffee, hot an' smokin', 

Heah de gals an' wimmen laff? 
Men folks teasin' an' uh jokin', 

Wimmen handin' back dey chaff. 



Cleah uhway de dinnah dishes. 

Set de table out de do ! 
Ah ain' hongry but mah wish is 

Shek uh fut uhcross de flo! 
Mobe de chaihs intuh de bedroom. 

We won' need 'em fo' uhwhile. 
Gib us ahm an' fut an' haidroom, 

We gwine dance mos' fawty mile. 



And Other Verses 91 



Bring de man dat play de fiddle, 

Bring ol' Ephum Johnson in; 
Got uh lane right thoo de middle, 

Wha' we waitin' tuh begin ! 
Bofe mah feet am jes' uh itchin' ; 

Hope dat fiddle sta't up soon. 
Dey ain' nuffin' quite so 'witchin' 

Ez uh good ol' dancin' tune. 

Song: 

EPHUM JOHNSON'S PIDDLE. 

Uncle Ephum, Ephum Johnson! 

Heah's uh table an' uh chaih. 
Loose dat long coat yo' is weahin' 

Hit won' git yo' anywhaih. 
Eve'ybody's done pas' tryin' 

Fo' tuh hoi' dey feelin's down. 
Sta't dat fiddle's voice uh cryin', 

Dis am sho' yo' stompin' groun'. 

Chorus : 

Cla' de way now folkses, 

An gimme room tuh swing. 
Ah kin' feel de spi'ut mobin' 

All thoo dat fiddle string. 
Crowd up in de winduhs, 

An' hide behin' de do ! 
Ali'se gwine tuh win' uh lady, 

Uh die foevahmo' ! 



92 Swing Dat Fiddle Bow 



Ephum Johnson, Uncle Ephum, 

Tuck dat fiddle neaf yo' chin. 
We's uh watchin' an' uh waitin' 

Fo' de music tuh begin. 
Twis' de keys an' use de rozzum ! 

Let us heah dem glad sweet tones. 
Ah cain' keep mah feet f'um jiggin'; 

Sashay roun' me, Nancy Jones. 

W'ukin' day am mos' all ovah. 

Mah laigs mos' too tiah'd tuh run; 
Come dese days an' we'se in clovah; 

Eve'ybody hab dey fun. 
L'ad all made an' out uh coolin', 

Hams an' bacon in de cuah. 
Boys an' gals dey sta't dey foolin' 

Spa'kin' time am heah fo' suah. 

Gals uh grinnin' peaht an' sassy, 

Mischief shinin' in dey eye. 

Boys sho slow — why, laws uh massy — 
Grab uh kiss an' not half try. 
Funny how smiles am so wa'min', 

Plum fo'git yo' tiah'd tuh def ; 

Heah dey come like bees uh swa'min'; 
Bes' be still an' sabe dey bref. 



And Other Verses 93 



Dah she go, de bow uh sailin' 

Up an' down uhcross de strings. 
"Possum up uh gumtree" wailin', 

While Ah'se loosnin' all mah springs. 

Th'ow mah haid mos' tuh de raftuhs. 

Swing de gals clean cross de flo'. 
Yo' cain' ha'dly heah de music, 

Ef yo' Stan' outside de do'. 

What's de mattuh Uncle Ephum, 

Why yo' gittin 'out yo' seat? 
Man, Ah'se jes' uh gittin' sta'ted. 

Yo' cain' stan' de awful heat? 
Ahm so tiahed cain' hoi' de fiddle? 

Dus' so thick hit mek yo' cough ? 
Ef yo' played fo' minutes longah, 

Ah'd plum' butt de ceilin' off. 

Now de ebenin' shades am fallin', 

Now de dancin' time am done. 
Wimmens am dey chillun's callin, 

F'um de frolickin' an' fun. 
Men uh hitchin' up de bosses. 

Wimmen's gath'un' up de wraps. 
Heah an tha' dey fin' dey losses, 

Bundlin' up de li'l chaps. 



94 



Swing Dat Fiddle; Bow 



One by one de wagons sta'tin', 

Wavin' hands an' loud goodbys. 
All am now home boun' fo' sahtain, 

Smilin' wif dey lips an' e>es. 
Ebenin' cho's am all uh waitin' 

An Ah mus' be on mah way. 
But belieb me when Ah'se statin' 

Heaps uh fun hawg killin' day. 





And Othdr Verses 95 

JIM OFPUrS CHANT, 

E watch dog howl uh mo'nful 
song, 
De brown owl croak an' cry. 
or grim Def come uh ridin' 
long— 
Dey's uh sinnah boun' tuh die ! 

His gray boss pass in misty dawn, 

De willows weep an' sigh. 
De crick shine black in comin' mo'n — 

Dey's uh sinnah boun' tuh die! 

Grabe stones gleam in de pale stah light, 

De win' go sobbin' by; 
De moon rock in de trackless night — 

Dey's uh sinnah boun' tuh die ! 

Dem shadduhs rise mah soul tuh meet, 

De col' am creepin' nigh. 
Ah heah de tromp ob de gray boss' feet — 

Dey's uh sinnah boun' tuh die! 

De tromp uh feet dey rise an' fall, 

De spi'ut soon mus' fly; 
Ah heah de voice uh grim Def call — 

Dey's uh sinnah boun' tuh die! 

Note — TTncle Jim Offut was an old Guinea negro in the home 
town of my boyhood. He had two grand passions — beer and 
the crooning of an interminable chant. The' last went to 
an air so weird, so melancholy, that 1 long ago despaired 
of a word arrangement that would even approach it. 
The above is written in the measure of the chant only. 

P. M. 




96 Swing Dat Fiddle Bow 

DE TROUBLE DODGUH. 

H sho' hate tuh say hit but nuffin wor- 
ries me; 
All de time Ah'se happy like uh 
bumble bee; 
When de sun am shinin' den Ah'm at mah bes' ; 

When hit staht tuh rainin' Ah kin tek mah res'. 
When Ah got de money den's uh happy time; 

Ah kin lib hit obah when Ah hain' uh dime. 
Any time yo' lissen yo' kin heah mah glee ; 

Ah sho' hate tuh say hit but nuffin worries me. 

Eve y time come trouble den Ah shet mah eyes ; 

Hit cain' nevah fin' me no mattuh how hit tries; 
Got no time tuh see hit, cain' see whut de use ; 

Folks whut go tuh meet hit dey on'y git abuse. 
Stan' uhroun' uh cryin', wringin' deyall's ban's ; 

When dey see me laughin' dey nevah unduh- 
stan's ; 
Think dat Ah am silly an' foolish ez kin be — 

Ah sho' hates tuh say hit but nuffin' worries me. 

Folks dat set roun' griebin' 'bout whut nevah bin, 

'Low dat hit mout happen once an' boun' tuh 
come uhgin. 
Mek deyse'fs oneasy uh mopin' roun' so sad, 

Griebin' bout de trouble dey think dey ortuh had. 
When uh thing done happen hit cain' be no wuss. 

Whut de useuh frettin' an' kickin' up uh fuss? 
Ef yo' matchin' trouble hit boun' not tuh flee — 

Ah sho' hate tuh sav hit but nuffin worries me. 



AxND Other Vrrse:s 97 



Ah'se uh goin' thoo dis worl' an' when Ah'se all de 
way, 
Doin" jes' de bes' Ah kin, eve'y single day, 
Lookin' fo' de sunshine an' findin' ob hit too, 

Knowin' jes' behime de cloud de sky's de same 
ol' blue; 
Ah'se gwine tek mah chances wif yuddah folks Ah 
know 
Whut's all de time uh pinin' an' honin' fo' mo' 
woe. 
Ah cain' see ol' Trouble so ah don' crook mah knee — 
Ah sho' hate tuh say hit but nufifin' worries me. 



98 



Swing Dat Fiddly Bow 




X^S^4 




And Other Verses 99 



SIMMON TIME, 

OME mo'nin* in de uhly Fall, 
When fros* shine on de 
groun', 

Yo' raddah not git up uhtall, 
Dan chill an' shek uhroun'. 
Den bimeby de sun come out, 
An' up de blue sky climb. 
An' wa'ms yo' tell yo' want tub shout- 
Well den, hit's 'simmon time. 

De 'simmons hang high on uh tree, 

Uh waitin' fo' Jack Fros'. 
Dey jes' ez green ez dey kin' be. 

An' all dey leaves am los'. 
But still dey cling tub eve'y limb ; 

De groun' am white wif rime. 
How many times Ah up has dim, 

In good ol' 'simmon time. 

Sometimes we use tub pick 'em green, 

An' ban' em tub uh frien'. 
An' mo' dan once sub, has Ah seen, 

Uh sho' nuff frien'ship en'. 
Mah gal's face ud twis an' frown, 

Tell she cain' ha'dly speak; 
De puckah whut hub lips weab roun', 

Cain' be kiss off'n uh week. 



100 Swing Dat Fiddle Bow 



Some folks don' know whut 'simmons is, 

But on iih mo'nin' chill, 
Ah'll plum' fo'git mah roomatiz, 

Ef Ah kin eat mah fill. 
Dey am so col' an' 'lishus too, 

An' sweet ez zahves uh jel' — 
Ah wush Ah hed no mo' tuh do 

Dan eat 'em, heah me tell ! 

or possum know whut 'simmons is. 

An' in de pale moonlight, 
He trabel whaih he gwine git his. 

An' dat am sholy right. 
An' den some night houn' dog an' me — 

His voice lif up an' chime — 
We ketch dat rascal up uh tree, 

In good ol' 'simmon time. 

Yo' tek an' spread 'em in de sun, 

Tell all dey sweetness dries, 
An' dates an' figs cain' wif em run, 

No mattuh how dey tries. 
An' folks dat tu'n up deyall's nose — 

Ah wouldn't gib uh dime 
Fo' all de things dey thinks dey knows 

'Bout sfood ol' 'simmon time. 




And Othdr VersDs 101 



NOVBMBAH JOYS. 

OME uhlong 

Novembah, 
Peekin' 'bove 
de hill, 
Long's Ah reckomenbah, 

Days an' nights am chill. 
Wintuh time's uh comin', 

Feel hit in mah bones. 
Win' hit sta't tuh hummin', 
In mos' mobin' tones. 

Tatuhs in de cellah. 

Co'n am in de shock. 
Apples gittun mellow, 

An' suh, by de clock, 
Pimkins undah covah, 

Sholy fill mah eye. 
Close suh ez uh bruvah, 

Am dat punkin pie. 

Got de sugah in hit, 

An' sweet spices too ; 
An' in 'bout uh minute, 

Ah'll be leabin' yo'. 
Tenduhs up mah feelin's, 

Whaih Ah git de drouf. 
Ah cain' go on spielin', 

Fo' dribblin' at de mouf. 



102 Swing Dat Fiddi^e Bow 



Eve'y time Ah mosey, 

Nigh de chicken fence, 
Gills uh shinin* rosy, 

Wings jes' spread immense. 
Dah he come uh struttin, 

Ain' he proud an' fat? 
Come thanksgibin* suhtin — 

Tuhkey, whaih yo' at? 



Layin' on de plattuh, 

Ain' he rich an' brown? 
Ef he fo' poun's fattuh, 

Bus* de table down. 
Drumsticks fo' de chillen, 

Dressin' on de side; 
Law know we all willin' — 

Achin' in ouah pride. 



Sun shine kinda misty, 

Hangin' in de sky. 
Clouds go swingin' twisty, 

Weathuh bimeby. 
Bet dat sun's uh grieben. 

While he lookin' down; 
Hain' no way fo' bliebin' 

He got tuhkey brown. 



And Other Verses 103 



So ez Ah'se uh tellin', 

Eve'y month whut am, 
Bring yo' joy uh wellin', 

Happy like uh clam. 
Yo' kin alius fin' hit 

Ef yo' eye am cleah, 
Trouble, nevah min' hit 

Thoo de 'durin' yeah. 




104 Swing Dat Fiddi^e Bow 



AT DE WHITE FO'KS HOUSE. 

I HEN Ah wake up in de 
mo'nin', 
In dese col' an' wintuh 
days, 
Wif de red sun jes' uh dawnin', 

An' uh spreadin' roun his rays, 
One eye peek uhbove de covah, 

Mahse'f Ah cain' ha'dly rouse, 
Tell Ah t'inks dat Ah'd druvah 

Hike 'long tuh de white fo'ks' house. 

Mandy's ovah tha' uh cookin', 

For dose white fo'ks on de hill. 
An' Ah bettah be uh lookin' 

Fo' mah bre'kfus, — 'deed Ah will. 
So Ah rise an' sta't tuh mosey, 

Straight tuh dat ol' kitchen do', 
Whaih hit's nice an' wa'm an' cosy — 

Ain' Ah all bin tho' befo'? 

Dey am one t'ing mighty fetchin' — 

White fo'ks eat 'em eve'y day ; 
In de mo'nin' dey's so techin' 

Dat Ah hope dey come mah way. 
Po' hit out uh box uh papuh, 

Li'l watah all hit takes. 
Alan, yo' ought tuh see me capuh, 

When come Mandy's griddle cakes ! 



And Othkr Verses 105 



Col' win' mek mah teef tuh chattuh, 

Jes' uh sahchin' thoo an thoo, 
An' mah feet dey sho'ly pattuh, 

Tell de big house come in view. 
Mandy peekin' thoo de winduh, 

On huh face uh big wide grin — 
''OV man, yo' shrunk same's uh cinduh, 

Shek yo' feet an' come right in." 

Set me by de kitchen table, 

Wif uh plate uh cakes so high, 
Ah'se mos' scaihed Ah won' be able — 

But Ah'll eat dem cakes uh die. 
White fo'ks dey am sho'ly favo'd, 

Wif dey luck de way hit breaks. 
Come each mo'n dey life done flavo'd, 

Wif dem Mandy griddle cakes. 



106 



Swing Dat Fiddle Bow 





And Other Versks 107 



SO'GHUM 'LASSES TIME. 

ON' talk tuh me 'bout maple 
sap, 
An' soggy buckwheat cakes, 
Co'n suhup too ain' wuf uh 
rap 
Wif all de time hit takes, 
Uh tas'in' on fo' sumfin' sweet, 

Dat somehow isn't thaih. 
But good ol' so'ghum cain' be beat, 
In dis worl' anywhaih. 

New Awlins 'lasses may be fine, 

Ef so'ghum yo' ain' seen; 
or blackstrap draw dis mouf uh mine, 

Jes' like uh 'simmon green. 
But ef yo' gwine talk sweet tuh me, 

Fo' spreadin' on mah bread. 
An' mention so'ghum — lawsy dee! 

Ah'd come back f'um de dead. 

Bring in de hotbread f'um de fiah, 

De so'ghum jug an' plate. 
Ah'se reached de height ob mah desiah. 

An', man, Ah'se heah tuh state : 
Uh smokin' biscuit in mah han*, 

De 'lasses stringin' down, 
Dey ain' uh king in all de Ian', 

Dat's wuf uh ha'f uh poun'. 



108 Swing Dat Fiddi^e Bow 



Hot griddle cakes an' muffins too, 

An' brown sweet ginguh bread — 
De Lawd know when Ah'se gwine git thoo, 

Uh feedin' mah ol' head. 
But when de so'ghum jug am dry, 

An' all de cakes am gone, 
Ah'd jes' uz soon lay down an' die 

Until tomorrow mo'n. 




And Other Verses 109 



HANG DE POSSUM HIGH, 

OS SUM hang on uh rusty- 
nail. 
Hang de possum high. 
Ovah in de brush Ah heah 
de quail. 
Hang de possum high. 
Thanksgibin' day am uh comin', man; 
Dis niggah hone fo' uh fryin' pan, 
Wif all de cracklin's he kin stan'. 
Hang de possum high. 

or Jack Fros' come uh nippin' 'long. 

Hang de possum high. 
He freeze dat rascal good an' strong. 

Hang de possum high. 
Uh yalluh pippin' in his mouf — 
Mah th'oat so dry Ah git de drouf — 
Ah soon now hab him gwine Souf. 

Hang de possum high. 

De pan am wide an' de pan am deep. 

Hang de possum high, 
or Mistuh Possum go tuh sleep. 

Hang de possum high. 
Ah sut'ny hope hit hain' uh sin, 
But dem sweet tatuhs in de bin 
Was sho'ly growcd tuh fence him in. 

Hang de possum high. 



110 Swing Dat Fiddle: Bow 



De plattuh hoi's dem drippin's sweet. 

Hang de possum high. 
De tatuhs clustah roun' his feet. 

Hang de possum high. 
Don' talk tuh me 'bout tuhkey bone, 
An' ol' ham hock hit mek me groan. 
But possum meat! chile, leab me 'lone. 

Hang de possum high. 




And Other Verses 111 



WHEN DE FLU DONE FLEW, 

HEN yo'all is down in uh po' sick 
baid, 
An* uh mizry's down thaih 
too, 
Uh rampin' roun' in yo'all's haid, 

Tell yo' don' know whut tuh do. 
Yo' eyes am leakin' an' yo' stren'th am gone, 

An' yo' know yo's uh feelin' blue. 
Yo' sho' nuf uh hopin' fo' de day tuh dawn, 
When de flu am done gone flew. 

Yo' got uh tightnin' in yo' ches', 

Like hit gwine cut smack in two. 
An' dey ain' no way tuh 'joy yo' res', 

Caze dat mizry stick like glue. 
An' dreams ob uh ha'nt mix in yo' sleep, 

An' chase yo' 'cross uh slough. 
An' dog mah soul but yo' git in deep, 

Fo' "dat flu am done gone flew. 

De fevah rise right out yo' bones, 
An' hit bu'n yo' thoo an' thoo. 

Yo' git so triflin' like yo' groans, 
Dat yo' gwine smack up de flue. 

When de day do come, dat yo' hunt yo' clo'es. 
An' peek at de winduh view, 

An' de sun shine right an' den yo' knows, 
Dat dc flu hah done gone flew. 




112 Swing Dat Fiddle: Bow 



DE HOODOO MAN. 

E Hoodoo man am monst'ous 
sly; 
Come snoopin' 'roim' when 
yo' ain' nigh, 
An' O, mah Lawd, he ride yo' high. 

Dat Hoodoo man. 
When Ah go out tuh shek de bones, 
Ah heah him say in mobin' tones : 
*'Ah got yo' goat now, Ephum Jones !'' 
Dat Hoodoo man. 

He come uhroun' in pale sta'light, 
Yo' think uh ha'nt bus' on yo' sight. 
Yo' git uh trembHn' in de night, 

Count de Hoodoo man. 
Yo' shivah neaf de wa'm bedclo'es, 
An' covahs up 'bove yo'alls nose, 
An' fros' come right out on yo' toes, 

Count de Hoodoo man. 

Yo' talk an' talk but taint no use. 

De hoodoo laf at yo' uhbuse — 

Ten thousand dollahs Ah bet Ah lose, 

Count de Hoodoo man. 
Yo' dog gwine howl when he go by. 
De cat she spit an' snap huh eye. 
De owl she croak uh mo'nful cry, 

At de Hoodoo man. 



And Othi^r VersKs 113 



An' ef he come on uh Friday night, 
Befo' de break uh dawnin' Hght, 
Double ol' trouble am thaih fo' spite, 

Long wif de Hoodoo man. 
Stobe hit smoke tell hit tek yo' bref ; 
Cough tell yo' choke mos' nigh tuh def. 
Ef de house still thaih jes' thank yo'se'f ; 

Hit sho' de Hoodoo man. 



He put uh cunjuh on yo' crap. 
De rain don' come, not nary drap. 
De whole dog worl' hain' wuf uh rap, 

Count de Hoodoo man. 
Ah wush Ah know some sho' good place, 
Whaih hoodoos nevah show dey face, 
Ah bet Ah'd run mahse'f uh race, 

'Way fu'm dat Hoodoo man. 



114 



Swing Dat Fiddle Bow 





And Other Verses 115 



A BEEF LESS DAY. 

HEN de Fall time am all ovah, 
An' hawg killin' time 
fo'got 

Teks mah gun f'um 'bove 
de do'way, 
An' mah powdah ho'n an' shot, 
Wrop mah feet an' laigs in bu'lap, 

Tie mah yeahs up good an tight — 
Hit am uhly in de mo'nin', 

An' de sta's am shinin' bright. 

Ben uh eatin' ol' hawg bacon, 
Tell Ah almos' plum' fo'got, 

Dat de fines' eatin' goin', 
Am uh rabbit in de pot. 

Wanduh down thaih thoo de cleahin' 
Roun' uh bresh pile, goin' slow, 

Boom ! de ol' gun speak like thundah — 
Mistuh rabbit, he lie low. 

Keep uh walkin' an' uh shootin', 

Tell mah game bag ovahflow; 
Den Ah p'ints out fo' de cabin, 

'Cross de fiel's an' thoo de snow. 
Hi thaih! Mistis Johnson, 

Whaih dat pot an' fryin' pan ? 
Done tromp thoo dis whole dog county, 

Mek has'e now an' feed dis man. 



116 Swing Dat Fiddle Bow 



Got mah laigs mos' in de fiahplace ; 

Soakin' in de blessed heat. 
One han' full uh smokin' co'n pone, 

An' de yuddah cram wif meat. 
Law me! dis am sho' good eatin'. 

Mos' devouah bones an' all. 
Know Ah ain't ben nigh so happy, 

Sence dat possum, way las' Fall. 




And Other Verses 117 



CINDY. 

E moon done shine on de 
milyun vine, 
Look at me, Cindy. 
An' he light twine 'roun' dis 
h'a't uh mine. 
Look at me, Cindy. 
Yo' eyes look down but dey weah no frown ; 
Mah h'a't flop 'roun' like uh lop yeah houn', 
An' Ah be boun' fo' tuh leab dis town, 
Less'n yo' look at me, Cindy. 

Yo' eyes dey beam like de sta's uhgleam ; 

Look at me, Cindy. 
So bright dey seem dey ha'nt mah dream. 

Look at me, Cindy. 
De day am bright but Ah hones fo' night ; 
Caze de da'k night brings yo' tuh mah sight. 
Den Ah teks mah flight tuh mah h'a'ts' delight ; 

So look at me, Cindy. 

In all dis' Ian' dey's jes' one plan ; 

Look at me, Cindy. 
Whaih yo'all stan' Ah pledge mah han'. 

Look at me, Cindy. 
Dat lovin' glance mek mah h'a't dance, 
Hit sho' de lance tuh mek me prance, 
An' we gwine Vance tuh de preachuh man's 

Eff'n vo' look at me, Cindv. 




118 Swing Dat Fiddlk Bow 



FUM Z TUH A. 

EPHAS was uh wu'kin' 
man. 
Toilin* eve'y day he 
can; 
Had uh money sabin' plan, 

Wif uh bankin' book. 
Put he money in de bank. 
Shun all gamblin' hanky pank ; 
He sho' spread uh heap uh swank, 
Wif de pride he took. 

One day tuh dat bankin' sto', 
Zephas stop outside de do'; 

Do' lock fas' an' whaflfo'? 
Bank hab jes' gone bus', 

Yassuh dat whut come tuh pass. 

Zephas' nose press gains' de glass; 

Eve'y doUah dat he has 
Jes' de same as dus'. 

He hang roun' thaih eve'y day, 
Hopin' dat dey gwine tuh pay ; 
Tell at las' some sma't man say : 

No doin's at dis place. 
Zeph, yo' heah ob banks dat go 
Whaih de woodbine twineth flow? 
Yas, but dis fus' bank Ah know, 
Bus' right in mah face. 



And Other Versks 119 



Las' come news de day bin set, 
When dat bank gwine pay dey debt, 
Co'din' tub de alphybet — 

Zeph bin thaih sence dawn. 
Cain' tell who hit am tub blame, 
Fo' some rammykackin' game, 
But long fo' dey reach Zeph's name, 

All de money gone. 



Well, Zeph go tub wu'k once mo', 
Sabin money as befo'. 
Look up eve'y bankin' sto', 

Fo' he mek uh pick. 
Den he ma'ch intuh dat place — 
Bank man grin all roun' his face: 
'Zeph, yo' look like meat an' grace, 

Dress so fine an' slick." 



Zeph he draw uh gra' big bref, 
He plum tickled mos' tub def. 
Swell all up an' preen hisse'f. 

Den he up an' spon': 
"Much bleege sub, but yo' mistook. 
An' fo' mah name's on yo' book. 
Git hit right an' lemme look, 

Caze mah name's Aaron." 




120 Swing Dat Fiddi^k Bow 



DEM PROFITEAHS. 

EY tells me suh dat Uncle 
Sam 
Am fixin' fo' tuh bus' 
Dem profiteahs kuhbim, 
kuhslam, 
Dat's bin uh bustin' us. 
He gwine tek up dey storage stock, 

An' put dem all tuh wu'k ; 
An' let dem feel de awful shock, 
Dat we'se felt wifout shu'k. 

Ah'se mighty glad tuh luh'n dat same ; 

Law know hit bin no joke, 
Tuh keep up dis heah honin' game, 

Fo' jes' uh bite uh po'k. 
Dey ain' no flavuh in de pot, 

Fo' goodness knows how long; 
An' Ah sho' want uh change uh thought, 

An' want hit good an' strong. 

Pot lickuh sho' mus' hab some grease, 

Tuh slick uh mess uh greens, 
An mah soul hankuh fo' de peace 

Dat come f'um po'k an' beans. 
Dey hain" bin hambone roun' dis place, 

Sence fo' de wahtime days, 
Tuh float me tuh de th'one uh grace, 

An' rise mah voice in praise. 



And Other Verses 121 



De tatuhs don' tas'e good no mo', 

Biled wif dey jackets on. 
Dey ain' no la'd come in mah do', 

Sence lawsy way back yon. 
An' clo'es an' meat done git so high — 

Ah nevah see de beat — 
Tell hit seem like dem Ge'man fry. 

Hit time tuh soim' retreat. 



Go right uhlong tha', Uncle Sam, 

An' do dat job jes' right. 
Ah'se dribblin' at de mouf, Ah am, 

Fo' po'k chops some fine night. 
Dem profiteahs done hed dey chance. 

Hit time tuh staht uh fuss, 
An' biff 'em like dey done in France, 

An' like dev done biff us. 




122 Swing Dat Fiddle Bow 



DB PAS SIN' OB BRUDDAH DUNN, 

uh awful rookus 'mong folkses at d^ 

chu'ch. 
Preachuh done lef de town on uh ebenin' 
train. 
Who gwine sabe de sinnuhs lef thaih in de luhch? 

Who gwine soove de sistuhs, moanin' in dey pain ? 
Uncle Amos Pattuhson, de causin' ob hit all, 

Bandy legged Amos, in de long Prince Albu't 
coat: 
Say de spi'ut mobe him, say he got de call — 

Rise right up in meetin' tuh git de preachuh's 
goat. 

Pahson Dunn he come tuh town all slicked up so gran'. 
Hed uh sho' nuf sto'Be pipe hat, collah an' uh tie. 
Use dem hifalutin' wo'ds we cain' unduhstan'; 

All de sistuhs lick dey lips an' show chalk in dey 
eye. 
Uncle Amos Pattuhson was de ushuh in de pews ; 

Tek de sistuhs by de han' an' lead 'em down de 
aisle. 
Come de fus' break in de plan when Sis' Johnson 'fuse ; 
She come prancin' down uhlone, show huh new 
dress style. 



And Other Verses 123 



Spread huhse'f claih 'cross de seat wif uh peacock 
preen. 
Cockeyed Amos stan' right thaih like he done 
growed fas'. 
Eve'ybody pop dey eyes, sistuhs tu'n plum' green. 
Preachuh talk 'bout Sheba an' de glories ob de 
pas'. 
All de sistuhs follow an' tu'n po' Amos down. 

Dat long coat he wearin' don' git him anywhaih. 

Set down in uh fuh back seat, all his face uh frown ; 

Preachuh pray, groan so loud shek up all de aih. 

Sistuhs all uh fallin' ha'd fo' de preachuh guy ; 

Gathun 'roun' dat gol' toof smile drinkin' in dat 
talk. 
Tek him home on Sunday, feed him chicken fry. 

Den when Uncle Amos' feelin's sta't tub balk. 
Den when he begin fo' tub suhkulate uhroun' ; 

Talkin' tub de young men an' argifyin' deep. 
Eve'ywhaih he go his mouf mek uh hummin' soun' — 

Yo' know dat ol' weasel ain' mo'n half uhsleep. 

On uh Sunday mo'nin when de chu'ch was full ; 

Wimmen all uh rustlin' dey dress an' bonnet 
things. 
Whole place plum' uhleckric like dey gwine tub pull 

Out de o'gun stoppah, when dc quiah sings. 



124 Swing Dat Fiddle: Bow 



Childun's feet uh scrapin' an raspin' cross de flo'; 

Pahson risin' out de pulpit chaih — 
Heah come Uncle Amos bustin' thoo de do' — 

Walkin' like he's trompin' on de aih. 

Got his long coat on uhgin, got uh hick'ry cane ; 

or cock eyes uh shinin' in his face : 
"Brethun an' uh Sistuhn Ah'se heah tuh desplain, 

Uh mobement fo' tuh he'p de cullud race. 
Ah'se 'pinted by committee tuh say tuh Bruddah Dunn, 

We want his quittin' papuhs sho' dis day. 
An' when de ol' train whistle, he bes' be on de run, 

Caze we am heah tuh speed him on his way." 

De deacons an' de elduhs, dey riz up on dey feet; 

De young bucks come uh mahchin' down de aisle. 
Wif Bruddah Dunn uh lookin' like he am sho' plum' 
beat: 
When Amos say : "We'se tiahd uh yo'alls style. 
Dey's too much silk hat liftin' ; too much gol' toof 
grin ; 
An' chicken ya'ds am suffrin' wif yo roun'. 
Dey's too much rammycackin' fo' tuh keep out mo'tal 
sin; 
An' hit high time yo' am leabin' dis man's town. 



And Othkr Versus 125 



De deacons an' de elduhs — de men folks in de chu'ch, 

Done come tuh dis cumclusion in ouah min' : 
Tuh day we gwine snatch yo' right smack off yo' 
puhch, 
An' sen' yo' skallyhootin' down de Hne. 
Dey hain' no use tuh argify, dey hain' no use tuh 
fight— 
Ah heah de train uh whistHn' roun' de ben' — 
Yo' done got 'bout uh minute tuh kiss yo'se'f good- 
night ; 
Right heah am whaih yo' chaptuh reach de en'." 



De men folks su'ges fo'wa'd, de wimmen sta't tuh 
scream, 
An' mek uh rush tuh sabe de preachuh man. 
Dey sho' nuf was uh mixup like de nightmaih ob uh 
dream, 
Wif ban's an' haih bofe flyin' thoo de Ian'. 
Dey flop de gals an' wimmen on de binches good an' 
ha'd; 
De boys set right on 'em fo' tuh hoi' de bilin' 
down. 
De pahson yell fo' muhsy, an' callin' on de Lawd, 
When dey sta't him on dat juhney outuh town. 



126 Swing Dat Fiddle Bow 



Silk hat crown all to' loose, rim hang roun' his neck; 

Necktie am iih danglin' neaf his eah. 
Clo'es all split an' dusty — sho' nuf was uh wreck — 

Bet he don' smile no mo' fo' uh yeah. 
Done raise seben doUahs fo' tuh buy his ticket pass; 

Push him thoo de window in de smokin' place : 
''Hunt yo'se'f some pastuhs new — we'se run out uh 
grass," 

Uncle Amos tell him, uh laffin' in his face. 



Hed uh awful rookus mong folkses at de chu'ch; 

Preachuh Dunn leab de town on de ebenin' train. 
Who gwine sabe de sinnahs lef thaih in de luhch? 

Who gwine soove de sistuhs moanin' in dey pain ? 
Uncle Amos Pattuhson de causin' ob hit all, 

Bandy legged Amos, in de long Prince Albu't coat. 
Say de spi'ut mobe him, say he got de call — 

Rise right up in meetin' tuh git de pahson's goat. 




And Other Verses 127 

WHEN SPRING BREAKS ON THE 
BOUGH. 

IN uh so'tuh moseyin' de o'chud thoo 
tuhday, 
Bin uh kinda sniffin' uh de breeze; 
Fillin' up mah system wif puhfumes 
dat play, 
Thoo de bloomin' plum an' apple trees. 
Lookin' at de blossoms white an' shelly pink; 

Watchin' petals floatin' in de aih. 
Sun so wa'm an' shinin', meks uh pusson think, 
Spring am sho'ly comin' now fo' faih. 

Buds uh swellin' tenduh on hick'ry an' oak. 

Ellums spo'tin' misty robes uh green. 
Sho' an' suhtin' now ol' Wintuh's back plum' broke, 

Wif vi'lets an' blue bi'ds on de scene. 
Red bi'd keep uh trillin' fit tub split his li'l th'oat; 

Colt an' calf uh kickin' up dey heels. 
Seem like all creation try tub rjse an' float, 

Testifyin' tub de joy hit feels. 

Biddy hens am cluckin' tub yalluh downy chicks. 

Fid's dey shine like jewels wif dey wheat. 
Evuh thing uh growin' am showin' hit's bes' licks, 

Jes' plum' boun' dat hit won' be beat. 
Li'l crick's uh flowin, wif pebbly bottom cleah — 

Got uh funny feelin' in mah spine — 
Hain' no time fo' foolin', Spring am plum' right 
heah — 

Whaih am dat ol' fceshin' pole an' line? 



128 



Swing Dat Fiddle: Bow 



Old Wood 





And Other Verses 129 



OU WOOD TO BURN. 

EN' yo' back 'cross uh dry 
oak stick, 
An' mek uh bucksaw 
whine, 
De man whut nevah done dat trick, 

He ain' no kin uh mine. 
'Roun' de house de wil' win' moan. 

All thoo de wintuh night. 

Hit soun' so col' hit mek me groan, 

An' hug de stove up tight. 

De ol' win' howl, de wood fiah snap. 

An' dat soun" good tuh me. 
An' Ah don' caih uh single rap. 

How col' hit git tuh be, 
Ef 'gainst de house dey is uh pile 

Uh heatin' wood an' split, 
Dat look like hit plum' reach uh mile 

Befo' hit sta't tuh quit. 

Yo' lay uh log uhcross de buck. 

An' tek uh bacon rin', 
Yo' gib dat saw uh swipe fo' luck, 

Hit easin' tuh yo' min'. 
Yo' sta't de sha'p teeth thoo de ba'k, 

An' bite intuh de wood. 
An' eve'y stroke mek uh new ma'k, 

To keep yo' feehn' good. 



134 



Swing Dat FiddIv^ Bow 





And Other Verses 135 



BRBAKIN' WINTAH'S BACK. 

HEN folks sta't sayin' ol' Wintuh's 
thoo, 
Caze de sun shine wa'm an' 
bright. 
Don' mek no diffunce ef de sky am blue, 

An' de Souf win' blow all night. 
Fo' jes' uhbout de time yo' uh lazyin' 'long, 

An' uh tekin' ob yo' ease; 
De Souf win' stop uh singin' dat song, 
Caze de Nawf win' brung uh freeze. 

Now fo' time come when Wintuh's back, 

Am bruck plum smack in two. 
Yo' watch fo' de Nawfwes' sky git black, 

De way dat hit ortuh do. 
When yo' see de lightin' stab de sky, 

When de thundah growl uhroun'. 
Hit time tuh kiss ol' Wintuh good bye 

When de rain come fallin' down. 

Hit tek uh good ol' thundah showah, 

Tuh mek him know his place. 
De thundah rob him ob his powah, 

De good rain wash his face. 
An' uhway up yanduh in de sky ; 

See whaih dat rainbow's hung ; 
Quick ez yo' fin' hit wif yo' eye, 

Yo' know dat vSpring done sprung. 



132 Swing Dat Fiddi^e: Bow 



Nex' mo'nin he's projickin' roun', 

Uh lookin' fo' his wife; 
An' mah wife say : "Yo' cheap gin houn', 

Yo' suhve tuh lose yo' life. 
Ef yo' was mine — de which yo' ain' — 

Ah'd suhve yo' up some sass. 
Yo'd be uh callin' on yo' sain' ; 

Dat sho' 'ud come tuh pass." 

Dat Eph he stan' still in his tracks ; 

Eyes pop right out his head; 
Dat wife uh mine grab up uh axe, 

An' Eph 'ud sho' bin dead 
Ef he ain' jump; done show good sense, 

When he pull off dat trick. 
He hop clean crost de picket fence, 

Befo' uh watch could tick. 

Dat night when Eph come bilin' home, 

An' step inside de do', 
His wife done bus' him on de dome, 

An' drap him on de flo'. 
She hit him wif uh co'd wood stick, 

An' whiles he layin' flat, 

We heah huh say 'bove eve'y lick : 

"Yo' triflin' houn', tek dat." 



And Other Verses 133 



An' Eph sho' tek hit ; lawsy dee ! 

Ain' Ah glad Ah ain' him? 
De song he sing am out uh key, 

When dat club hit kuhbim ! 
An' come nex' week he go tuh wu'k 

But leab Tom gin behin'. 
He cleah fo'git suh, how tuh shu'k ; 

Hit so fuh fu'm his min'. 

Mis' Boscow's face done weah uh smile ; 

De chilluns weah new shoes. 
Bin happy now fo' quite uhwhile — 

Sence Eph quit Tom gin booze. 
An' ol' Eph done lu'n how tuh laf — 

He do so fo' uh fac; 
An' walk de straight an' nah'r paf, 

Wifout once lookin' back. 

An' dat am all, do' mah wife say, 

De way tuh treat uh man, 
So he de same come eve'y day, 

Am jes' tuh use dis plan : 
When he am right den yo' be right. 

But ef'n he boun' tuh fuss, 
Jes' sta't right in an' en' de fight, 

An' mek yo's dat much wuss. 



130 Swing Dat Fiddi.e: Bow 



All thoo dem cool days in de Fall, 
Ah mek mah bucksaw go, 

Yo' heah hit bite an' rasp an' call 
"Git ready fo' de snow." 

De groun' done freeze as ha'd as stones, 
De fros' so col' an' white, 

Uh miz'ry s'a'ch me tuh mah bones, 
An' dat am talkin' right. 



or coal fiah mek me cough an' choke, 

De clinkuhs fill de grate, 
Yo' tek uh wagon rod an' poke 

To keep dat fiah straight. 
But ol' dry wood hit bu'n so cleah, 

An' smell so good an' sweet, 
Dey ain' no chance fo' coal 'roun' heah, 

'Caze wood done got hit beat. 



Come night Ah'se settin' in uh chaih, 

Dat got uh hick'ry seat, 
An' wife an' chillun bofe am thaih, 

Uh soakin' in de heat. 
Uh pile uh wood is 'gainst de wall, 

Mah ol' pipe drawin' fine, 
or Wintuh got no chance uh tall, 

Tuh git at me an' mine. 




And Other Verses 131 



DE TAMIN' OB EPH. 

PH Boscow was uh blue 
gum coon, 
Wif yalluh in his eye. 
An' come each changin' ob 
de moon, 
Fo' meannness he ride high. 
He come home weahin' ob uh scowl ; 

An' den he sta't uh fuss. 
When mah wife heah Mis' Boscow howl, 
She say, ''Ah'm glad 'tain' us." 

Hit sho' am scan'lous how he do. 

So full uh ol' Tom gin, 
He mos' nigh bruk de house in two, 

De way he mek things spin. 
He sut'ny fuss an' quohl an' fight — 

Ah nevah see de beat — 
He raih an' taih de 'durin' night, 

An' den nex' day repeat. 

Come home one night so pow'ful mean 

He ought tuh hate hisse'f. 
Dey come uh yell so loud an' keen, 

Hit scaih us mos' tuh def. 
His wife done run out in de night, 

Uh holdin' huh po' ahm 
An' come tuh ouah house fo' hit light, 

So she be safe fu'm ha'm. 




136 Swing Dat Fiddlk Bow 



TO T. J. B. IN OLD ST. JOE. 

EY'S uh voice f'um ol' Mizzooah come uh 
callin', callin' me, 
Wif uh honguh an' uh miz'ry in dey face 
Fo' ol' hick'ry ham uh fryin' an' red graby 
runnin' free, 
Wif hits puhfume floatin' all uhroun' de place. 
Now de mo'nin's gittin' coolah an' de fros' ain' fuh 
uhway, 
An' yo' know dey's sumfin nourishin' yo' need. 
So yo' call on ol' Platte County, an' heah am whut 
yo' say : 
"Sen' up uh bunch uh hick'ry hams wif speed." 

Do' de ham crop mos' all ovah an' hit long tell 
butch 'un' time ; 
De on'y thing yo' figgas on am dis : 
De hick'ry hams grow bestes' in ol' Platte County 
clime, 
An' yo' hankuh fo' uh plate full ob dat bliss. 
Law know dat Ah don' blame yo', libs in ol' Platte 
mahse'f — 
An' Ah know dev's still uh few hams hano-in' hiq-h ; 
So Ah'll go out puhsuadin' wif uh coaxin' in mah bref. 
An de money jinglin' in mah han' tuh buy. 



And Other Verses 137 



An' hit may be dat Ah'll git 'em, folks sho' got foolish 
ways — 

An' whut dey do yo' cain' mos' always tell — 
Like Omah an' de vintuhs, in his song ob yuddah days : 

Whut kin dey buy ez good ez whut dey sell ? 
An' so Ah'll tek mah hat in han' an' trabbel down de 
road, 

An' ef Ah git uh ham yo'U heah f'um me. 
Ah'll do de ve'y bes' Ah kin tub lighten yo'alls load, 

At 'leben twenty Edmond street, P. P. 

The above was sent in response to a request for 
Platte County hickory cured hams by a friend of the 
author, living in Saint Joseph, Mo. 



142 Swing Dat Fiddli^ Bow 



De li'l chile grow tuh uh boy ; 

De boy grow up uh man. 
But still he ol' Aunt Hetty's joy, 

Ez when hit am he ran 
Wif eaguh futsteps tuh huh chaih, 

Tuh climb up on huh knee ; 
De while she stroke his golden haih, 

An' croon uh melody. 

Dat pickchuh linguh thoo de yeahs, 

An' ez de time hit flow, 
Wif all de doubts an' all de feahs 

Dat young folks nevah know ; 
She on'y see dat li'l chile 

Whut lub huh, do' he roam, 
Uhcross de worl', uh many mile ; 

She waitin' fo' him — home. 




And Other Verses 143 



A JOBLESS SPRING. 

|L' Springtimes dat use tuh 
was, 
Dey don' ha'k back no mo'. 
White folks don' come roun' 
uhtall 
Uh knockin' on mah do'. 
Come de Springtime cleanin', 
Ma'ch win's keenin' fine. 
Rugs an' cyahpets hangin' 
An' swingin' on de line. 

Gyahden hose on piece uh stick, 

Flailin' in mah han'. 
Dus' hit fly wif eve'y lick, 

Blowin' 'roun' de Ian'. 
Win' hit belly out de rug, 

Tekin' up de slack. 
Soun' jes' like ol' Fo'th July, 

When Ah smack hit back. 

Scrub de flo' all white an' clean ; 

Wash de winduhs too. 
Wush Ah knew whut white folks mean. 

By de things dey do. 
Hain' no use fo' cuUud man, 

Fo' tuh houseclean now. 
Dey done got uhnothah plan ; 

He cain' wu'k nohow. 



140 Swing Dat Fiddle) Bow 



Dey say Ah'se got such mobin' tones, 

Come ansuh tuh mah praih ! 
Ah sho' kin wa'm an' cuddle bones 

Caze why ? Ah speaks 'em faih. 
De way Ah twis' 'em out mah han', 

Hit sho' nuf cain' be beat. 
O Lady Luck, yo' sho' am gran', 

An' Ah'se heah at yo' feet. 




And Other Verses 141 



OU AUNT HETTY. 

L' Aunt Hetty's face was 
brack, 
But huh soul puah 
white. 
Hain' none bettah, clat's uh fac', 

In dis worl' tuhnight. 
On'y she ain' heah no mo'. 
Done lef dis heah Ian'. 
Libin' on dat heabenly sho', 
We cain' unduhstan'. 

Hed uh chile she use tuh nuss, 

At some white man's place. 
Yo' could sho'ly sta't uh fuss, 

Ef yo' ope' yo' face. 
Talkin' 'bout his big brown eyes, 

An' his golden haih. 
When she go uhway he cries ; 

Wif huh eve'ywhaih. 

Use tuh kiss huh ol' brack jaw ; 

Puckah up his face. 
Den he go an' kiss his ma, 

On de se'fsame place. 
Cain' tell which he lub de bes'. 

Know dey bofe lub him. 
Yalluh head upon huh bre's ; 

Eyes wif sleep grow dim. 



138 



Swing Dat Fiddle Bow 





And Other Verses 139 



DE CRAP SHOOTAH, 

OY, when Ah tek's dem iv'ry 

squaihs, 
An' wa'ms 'em wif mah bref, 
An' ta ks tuh dem sweet as Ah daihs, 

Yo' ought tuh heah mahse'f ! 
De t'ings Ah say u'd cha'm de bi'ds, 

Phim' off uh chai'hy tree. 
Dey sho'ly am mos' fittin' wo'ds, 
An' dey sho' fit fo' me. 

Mah baby want uh paih uh shoes ! 

Come seben, come uhleben ! 
O Mistis Luck, please he'p me choose, 

Dat op'nin' gate tuh Heaben ! 
Fade me ! Fade me ! U'l Joe. 

Oh, Big Dick, wha' yo' roam? 
Showah down an' mek Jim Crow, 

Go walkin' clean smack home. 



Come six ! Come six ! an mek mah pass, 

Tek all dat nigga's clo'es, 
De way yo's rollin' sho' am class, 

An' Ah'se de one whut knows. 
Five an' ace cain' count no less, 

Come tuh yo' pappy, mon', 
Mah gal gwine git uh new silk dress, 

Fo' Ah'se mo'n half wav done. 



144 



Swing Dat Fiddli: Bow 



OBLESS 




And Other Verses 145 



Hitch uh string tuh 'lec'ric light, 

Dat whut dey all do. 
Leathuh bladduh, sewed up tight, 

On uh whichem who. 
Got uh han'le like uh hoe, 

Push hit 'cross de flo'; 
F'um de rug de dus' hit go, 

An' don' come back no mo\ 



Hang up mah ol' beatin' stick, 

Hain' no use uhtall. 
Walk all roun' dis ballywick, 

Plum' f'um Spring tell Fall. 
Den Ah wouldn't git uh chance, 

Fo' tuh he'p houseclean, 
Whaih de dus' an' sunshine dance — 

Shadduhs in between. 



Wonduh how come white folks blieb 

CuUud folks mus' pass, 
Thoo dis worl' wifout reprieb 

F'um plain gyahden sass. 
Cain' buy nary piece uh meat. 

Sun uh shinin' fine — 
or catfeesh am ha'd tuh beat — 

Feeshin' time fo' mine. 




146 Swing Dat I^iddi^e Bow 



ON THE TRAIN. 

AWS uh mussy, Ah'se sho' tiahd ; 
Plum, all out uh bref, 
Tryin' fo' tuh ketch dis train, 
Fo' Ah done git lef. 
One han' luggin' dis ol' bag, 
One ahm roun' dis chile ; 
Bet uh dime Ah couldn't wag, 
Thoo uhnothah mile. 



Well, Ah'se heah, an' thank de Lawd. 

Train, go right uhlong. 
Ah want tuh heah dat choo choc soun', 

Sing dat home boun' song. 
Dat de way we gwine now — 

Ding dong, say de bell — 
Sweat uh runnin' off mah brow, 

Sho' hot, heah me tell? 

Li'l baby go tuh sleep ; 

Close dem big black eyes. 
Yo' bes' min' me when Ah talk — 

Come uh big s'prise. 
Look heah chile, whut yo' uhbout, 

Puck'in' up dat face? 
Ef yo' cry Ah'll weah yo' out ; 

Cryin' roun' dis place. 



And Other Verses 147 



Whut yo' reckon white folks think 

Ef yo' sta't tuh cry? 
Stop de quivah in dat Up, 

Fo' Ah show yo' why. 
Hongry? bress de li'l lam'; 

Cuddle nex' mah ahm. 
Tek yo' dinnah Mistuh Sam, 

Hit am nice an' wa'm. 



Nevah see sech hongry chile; 

Mos' nigh stop his bref. 
Tek hit easy, mah good Ian' ! 

Choke yo'se'f tuh def. 
Bettah eat yo' dinnah chile — 

Don' yo' laf at me. 
Hit way pas' yo' sleepy while — 

Cute ez yo' kin be. 

Look heah, chile, ain' yo' gwine sleep? 

Mah ol' han' done raise ; 
Gwine lambas'e yo' all fo' sho', 

One uh dese fine days. 
Yo' bettah eat, Ah got uh plan, 

Dat fool yo' jes' yo' see. 
Ah'll gib hit tuh de 'ductah man, 

An' den whaih will yo' be? 



148 



Swing Dat Fiddly Bow 



Dg Camp nQQim 





And Other Verses 149 



DB CAMP MEET IN' SPOUNDAH. 

EPENT, yo' sinnahs, yes, 
eve'y chile, 
Yo' all belong tuh ol' 
Belial, 
Lawd, tell yo' suhvant, am it wuth while, 

Tryin' tuh sabe dese sinnahs? 
O child'un, when dat trumpet soun'. 
An' jedgment day am done roll 'roun', 
Belieb me, Ah'm not gwine be foun' 
Uh sabin' yo'all sinnahs ! 

How yo' gwine fin' dem streets ob gol' ? 

De debbil campin' 'roun' yo' soul. 
Heah dat snappin' torment roll? 

Oohm hoohm ! Yo' mizzable sinnahs ! 
How yo' spec' tuh be uh cha'ybim? 
De Lawd am waitin' yo' lights tuh trim, 
Mek has'e, white folks watchin' fo' Him, 
Lawd, has'n dese lazy sinnahs! 

Lawd, don' sen' down dat cha'yut sweet, 
An' don' puhpah dat golden street, 

'Caze hell am yawnin' at de feet 
Uh all dese triflin' sinnahs. 

Gab'ul am uh waitin' tuh soun' de tnunp ! 

Grace am fadin' an' yo' bettah hump! 

Lawd, no use triflin' wif dis heah lump 
Uh ha'd headed, no count sinnahs! 



150 Swing Dat Fiddi^e Bow 



Testify, brothah, an' pu'ge yo' sin! 

Amen, sistuh! Now shout uhgin! 
Blessed am de Lamb, all jine in! 

Come fool oV Satan, brethun ! 
Loudah, brothah ! Sistuh, don' grieve, 
De lamp am bu'nin', come an' believe! 
Dat blessed soun' — Reprieve'. Reprieve'. 

Am savin' all po' sinnahs! 




And Othkr Ve:rses 151 



CANE GRINDIN' AT POTEETS. 

OME folks dey lub de ribbon 
cane 
An' some de ambuh kin'. 
De las' strike me wif might 
an' main, 
Hit strickly in mah line. 
Jes' grow hit in uh light clay groun', 

An' den hit cain' be beat. 
An' when hit ripe jes' bring hit roun', 
Tuh Mistuh Ike Poteet. 

Now when de cane heads tu'nin' brown, 

Yo' strip off eve'y blade; 
So when de sun come beatin' down, 

Dey ain' uh mite uh shade. 
De wa'm rays mellow right on thoo, 

An' mek de cane juice sweet. 
An' den fo' long de same am due 

At Mistuh Ike Poteet. 

Come time yo' cut all de cane ; 

Yo' lop each head uh seed, 
An' lay hit 'way jes' like de grain, 

'Gainst nex' yeah's plantin' need. 
Den bring de cane up tuh de mill — 

Ah sho' hates tuh repeat — 
Hit Stan's uhway up on de hill, 

By Mistuh Ike Poteet. 



152 



Swing Dat Fiddi^k Bow 



CaTie Grinding 

^oieeti 




And Othkr Versks 153 



De or mill tu'n uhroun' an' roun', 

De team keep walkin' slow. 
De cane hit mek uh crushin' soun', 

An' thoo de hoppuh go. 
An' lawsy me, Ah wanttuh shout, 

Tuh see dat cane juice neat, 
Uh bubblin', laughin', f'um de spout; 

Groun' out by Ike Poteet. 



De bilin' kittle hoi' de juice, 

Uhbove uh bright wood flame. 
Yo' stub hit tell yo' ahm am loose, 

An' yo'all's back am lame. 
But when hit bile down thick an' brown. 

An' ready fo' tuh eat, 
Yo' pack yo' sawghum intuh town, 

Dat's made by Ike Poteet. 




154 Swing Dat Fiddi^e Bow 



WHEN WINTER LINGAHS, 

jHEN de sun wa'm up an' de worV 
shine bright, 
An' de snow all go uhway, 
An' you think ol' Wintuh done 
say good night, 
An' Spring done come tuh stay — 
Yo' spade up de groun' fo' yo' gahden sass, 

De maples uh leakin' sap, 
An' Wintuh come sneakin' ovah de grass, 
Tuh lingah in Mis' Spring's lap. 

Oh, de win' blow col' an' de fros' cling roun', 

An' bite de beans smack off. 
De co'n done spile dey plant in de groun', 

An' de chilluns git uh cough. 
De sun done hide an' de sky am gray, 

An' de fiah hit spa'k an' snap, 
or Wintuh come lazyin' roun' yo' way, 

Tuh roos' in Mis' Spring's lap. 

Yo' draw all up when yo' do yo' cho's, 

An' uh miz'ry git yo' knee. 
Summah ain' nebbah comin', yo' s'pose, 

Tell de yeah ob jubilee. 
Yo' gittin' so low down in yo' min', 

Dat yo' don' caih uh rap, 
An' de reason fo' hit all yo' fin', 

Am Wintuh in Mis' Spring's lap. 



And Othe:r Versus 155 



Yo' sho'ly hone fo' de good wa'm days, 

When yo' go wifout yo' coat. 
An' de wu'kin' sweat po' down yo' face, 

When yo' feed de cow an' shote. 
An' one uh dese days de good wa'm sun, 

Will sho' bus' up dat snap, 
An' Wintuh wake up on uh long keen run 

F'um snoozin' in Mis' Spring's lap. 




156 Swing Dat Fiddlk Bow 



DE WOODBOX 'HIN' DE STOVE. 

HEN cool Spring days hab 
done gone by, 
An' Summah time right 
heah; 
Ah like uh shady place tuh lie, 

Wif no one but me neah. 
Ah put mah back uhgin uh tree, 

An' light mah ol' cob pipe, 
An' lissen tuh de chickadee, 

An' den de time am ripe ; 
When Mandy's voice so loud an' shrill, 
Come ringin' thoo de grove: 
"Yo' Ephum, bettah come an' fill 
Dat woodbox 'hin' de stove." 



Dat 'ooman bu'n de mostes' wood, 

Dat yo'all evah see. 
She won' be sabin' ef she could, 

Caze dat be sabin' me. 
An' when she staht on washday mo'n 

Uh ahn de stahchin' clothes ; 
Ah know dat sho' ez Ah is bo'n, 

Dey's bringin' me mah woes. 
Dat am de time Ah wush mah feet, 

Ud pick me up an' rove 
So fuh uhway dat Ah could beat 

Dat woclbnx, 'bin' de stove. 



And Other Verses 157 



Whenevah Ah set down tuh res', 

Mah po' or weahy bones, 
Uh tas'e uh li'l uh life's bes'. 

Come dem hahsh, mobin* tones, 
Dat bid me rise an' tek mahse'f, 

Down whaih dat woodpile be; 
An' wu'k mahse'f suh, mos' tuh def, 

Befo' once mo' Ah'se free. 
De sweat drap off mah ol 'hot face, 

Like pubis f 'um treasuh trove ; 
An' all jes' fo' tuh fill one place — 

Dat woodbox 'bin' de stove. 



Ah wush Ah bed uh woodsaw rig, 

Wif injine an' uh saw; 
Ah'd mek dat woodpile dance uh jig, 

Hit sho' would come tuh taw. 
Ah'd ring de house in wif uh pile 

Uh wood cut jes' stove len'th ; 
An' stack hit up uhbout uh mile ; 

An' den, Ah'd save mah stren'th, 
Tuh hoi' mahse'f down in uh chaih, 

An* nevah would Ah hove 
Mah feet an' laigs uhway f'um thaih, 

Fo' dat woodbox hin' de stove. 




158 Swing Dat Fiddly Bow 



DB DRIFTIN' MASCOT. 

I AH name am Vuhgil Walkuh an' mascotin' 
am mah biz. 
At navigatin' roun' de camps Ah'se sho* 
de bes' whut is. 
Ah jines up wif de ahmy but Ah don' haf tuh 'list; 
Ah jes' puhsents cuhdentials, Ah writes wif mah 
own fist. 
Ah fus' jine as uh mascot fo' de fightin' Twenty-Fo'th ; 
But Ah don' stay thaih all de time, keep driftin' 
tuh de No'th. 
Ah done heah 'bout Camp Funston, so Ah drif ' uhroun' 
dat way; 
But shucks, dem niggas was so slow Ah didn't 
hab time tuh stay. 



So Ah drif 's tuh ol' Camp Upton an' was gwine plumb 
tuh France. 
Dey's so much snap tuh Upton boys, Ah know'd 
Ah'd foun' mah chance. 
One day Ah went intuh New Yawk an' stop uh day 
uh two. 
An' when Ah drif's back tuh Upton, de Th'ee 
Sixty Seben's flew. 
Yas suh, dey pull right out fo' France an' nevah say 
good bye ; 
An' dey nevah tuk dey mascot, dat felt mean 
uhnuf tuh die. 



And Other Verses 159 



So Ah corned back tuh Funston, whaih dey ain' so 
doggone fas', 
Dat uh sho' nuf reely mascot ain' noways in dey 
class. 
An heah Ah bin uh waitin' an' ha'kin' fo' de call, 

Tell dis fool wah's plum' all ovah, an' Ah cain' 
go now uhtall. 

Note: 

Just as told in the verse, Virgil Walker, a young 
negro, posed as a regimental mascot at various camps 
during the war. He never enlisted but obtained en- 
trance to the various camps by means of credentials 
he had written himself. He was finally discovered 
and told the story of his wanderings as above. 

F. M. 



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